Extracts from caterer's archives

The sixties

Restaurateurs and caterers who serve soups that do not contain the required amount of meat or vegetable will be liable to prosecution - if a Government report, published this week, is implemented.

A report on canned and powdered soups by the foods standards committee of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, lays down minimum proportions of ingredients. While the onus is laid chiefly on the manufacturers, the report suggests that products supplied to caterers should be exempt, and the onus laid on the caterer himself as the man who finally prepares and serves the soup.

This means that the chef or caterer would be regarded as the manufacturer, and would be liable if he diluted a prepared soup. The committee, which dealt only with canned and powdered soups, is not clear whether it intends "home-made" soups to be subject to any legislation proposed.

Caterer, 13 June 1968

The seventies

Local authorities have been watching an experiment by Canterbury City Council aimed at educating the city's Chinese restaurateurs in Western ways of food hygiene.

The council has had hygiene posters and stickers printed in Chinese and has organised a hygiene seminar in Chinese.

Brian Roberts, Canterbury's environmental health officer, said the Chinese have not been singled out as a particular target, but the approach was seen as the only way of tackling a serious communication problem.

Caterer, 8 June 1978

The eighties

"Whinger of the Week awards" are being offered to hotel guests in a drive to encourage the British public to complain more often. The awards are part of a National Motivation Week, starting on 20 June, organised by the 210-member hotel consortium Consort.

Caterer, 9 June 1988