London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Chelsea 1959
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1959
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- 49 -
UNSOUND FOOD
When it has been established that food is unfit for human
consumption, it is surrendered to the Council's Public Health
Inspectors, removed from the premises, and the necessary surrender
certificates issued, the food being subsequently disposed of via
the Council's refuse disposal service, after suitable treatment
with liquid carbolic.
Approximately 2,290 pounds of unsound or diseased food
were surrendered to and destroyed by the Council's Public Health
Inspectors during the year, and for the purpose of comparison,
details of the foods which have largely contributed to the annual
totals during the years 1956 - 1959 (inclusive) are set out in the
following table :-
UNSOUND FOOD SURRENDERED TO THE COUNCIL'S FOOD INSPECTORS DURING THE YEARS 1956 - 1959 (INCLUSIVE).
| Commodity | 1956 lbs. | 1957 lbs . | 1958 lbs. | 1959 lbs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cake | - | - | 37 | - |
| Cheese | 86 | 33 | 44 | 46 |
| Currants | - | 102 | — | _ |
| Fish, Tinned | 66 | 11 | — | 114 |
| Fish, Fresh | - | - | - | 43 |
| Flour | — | — | — | 80 |
| Fruit, Tinned | 829 | 482 | 421 | 380 |
| Fruit, juices | 60 | 46 | 31 | 46 |
| Fruit, Fresh | - | - | — | 120 |
| Fruit, dried | - | — | 25 | — |
| Ice Cream | — | - | — | 99 |
| Meat, Fresh | 1,287 | 853 | 815 | 281 |
| Meat, Tinned | 310 | 520 | 910 | 635 |
| Milk, Tinned | 33 | 28 | — | 30 |
| Potatoes | — | — | 208 | — |
| Preserves - Jams, Marmalade, etc. | 45 | 21 | - | 20 |
| Sausages | - | 23 | - | - |
| Soups | - | 16 | 16 | 30 |
| Vegetables | 214 | 410 | 125 | 328 |
| Aggregates of all foods condemned annually | 3,296 | 2,661 | 2,780 | 2,290 |
Average for the four years - 2,757 lbs.