The British Food Journal Volume 57 Issue 3 1955

The City Council of Westminster has considered difficulties which may arise from the fact that a Food and Drugs Authority has to decide, before instituting prosecutions, whether to lay information against the seller of unsatisfactory food or against a previous supplier thereof. The Council therefore suggested to the Minister of Food that he should introduce amending legislation giving local authorities power to decide in court whether they should prosecute the retailer or the supplier of an article. The Council pointed out that it might be difficult to decide in any particular case who should be prosecuted as they (the council) would not be in possession of all the evidence which would ultimately be available to the court. If the proceedings against the selected defendant failed, the council pointed out, it might not be possible to proceed against another defendant within the time limits prescribed.