Correspondence
Shop Windows and Health
Sir,
The windows of countless shops, especially grocers' shops, are filled with a profusion of foodstuffs, such as dried fruit, peas, beans, rice, sugar, &c. In some shops several cwts. of food are piled up behind the window.
Moisture and dirt from the window runs on to the food, deteriorating it. Peas, beans, &c., occasionally sprout in consequence. Flies and other vermin soil the food, and thus dirt and disease germs are quite unnecessarily mixed with the food. Some of it is spoiled and is thrown away. Some is washed and then sold. Some is sold with all the dirt and contamination adhering to it.
These methods of exposure of food are unhygenic, wasteful and totally unnecessary. Intending purchasers can examine the quality of the goods offered if small quanities are shown on suitable receptacles, preferably under glass covers. At present thousands, if not ten thousands of tons of goods are wastefully treated in the manner describer, and the health of the people is unnecessarily jeopardised.
Parliamentary and administrative interference with this undesirable method of handling food is undesirable if it can be avoided. We would strongly hurge individual grocers and other shopkeeprs and their powerful associations to bring about a discontinuance of these objectionable methods by voluntary means, otherwise the national and local authorities will have to intervene.
We would ask shopkeepers' assocations and individual shopkeepers to write to us, telling us what they are doing in order to remedy the evil of avoidable contamination of the nation's food.
We are, dear Sir,
Yours truly,
Meredith Atkinson
General Secretary
New Health Society, 46, Southampton Row, London, W.C.1.
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