The Educational Aspect of a Clean Food Campaign

Abstract

The interest in clean food is not of recent development ; it goes back to the middle of the eighteenth century, but not until I860 was it made the subject of legislation. The public health service has inclined to persuasion rather than coercion in stimulating the need for pure and whole some food as a safeguard against injury to health.

There is a conflict between trade interest and the official health interest which can be resolved by mutual co-operation and public enlightenment. The deliberate food adulterator should be regarded and dealt with as a common thief.

The Catering Trade Working Party's recommendations focused attention on the importance of clean food handling ; whether the increase of notified cases of food poisoning is real or imaginary the danger to the public health is there ; educational measures and an immediate improvement in food handling are, therefore, of paramount importance.

Improvements in food handling, like improvements in anything else, will cost money ; the public will be called upon to meet the cost. Let it be understood that they will get far better value than having to risk the cost of illness which when incurred cannot be counted in pounds, shillings and pence. The cost is a form of insurance against illness.

There is a need to protect the honest trader from exploitation by the blackmailer who says he has found this or that in some food commodity purchased.

The precautions to be taken in clean food handling are simple ; the real danger is confined to a few products only.

An educational campaign starts in the town hall. It is the local authority which should take the lead in a matter of this kind. The next step is to interest the trade ; a clean food exhibition will bring the matter to the notice of the public as well as provide an opportunity for various firms to bring their ideas to the notice of the trade. The press can give great assistance by timely publicity in the development of the clean food idea. Lectures to food handlers are of unquestionable value. The interest and encouragement of master tradesmen is absolutely necessary in getting staff to attend. The St. John Ambulance Association syllabus is short, simple and acceptable ; the classes should be self-supporting.

The personal approach to the problem of clean food and clean food handling is far more profitable than making it the subject of official diatribes.