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
Kensington 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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Details of the adulterated samples are as follows:-
| Sample | Nature of Adulteration | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Vinegar | Decomposed and unfit for food | Informal sample. |
| Vinegar | Decomposed and unfit for food | Proceedings instituted. Summons dismissed. |
| Vinegar | 4% deficient in acetic acid | Warning to vendors and report to Ministry of Food. |
| Cake and Pudding Mixture | Unfit for human consumption owing to rancidity. | Informal sample. Remainder of stock surrendered. |
Unsound food
Seizure
Under Sections 9 and 10 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938,
it is an offence to sell, offer, or expose for sale, food
intended for human consumption, which is in an unfit condition.
Such food can be seized and taken before a Justice, who can
condemn it, and order it to be destroyed or disposed of for
purposes other than human consumption.
There were six instances during the year when the
provisions of these sections were enforced. In four cases the
Public Health Committee decided to give warnings to the
manufacturers or vendors. In the other two cases it was
decided to take proceedings. These resulted in a fine of
£5. 0. 0. plus 2-guineas costs in one case, but in the second
case the proceedings were subsequently cancelled, owing to the
death of a material witness.
Surrender
Any person having for the purpose of sale, food which is
diseased, unsound, or unfit for human consumption, can, under
Section 180(8) of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936,
surrender it to the Council for destruction or other suitable
method of disposal.
During the year the following amounts of food were surrendered and condemned as unfit for human consumption:-
| Meat (Raw and Bacon) | 2 | 9 | 3 | 22½ |
| Meat (Tinned) | — | — | 12 | |
| Sausages | — | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| Poultry and Rabbits | — | 21 | ||
| Pish (Wet and Dry) | 12 | 2 | 10½ | |
| Pish (Shell) | — | 1 | — | 20 |
| Butter, Margarine and Cheese | — | 1 | 3 | |
| Tea | — | — | 3 | 16 |
| Sugar | — | 1 | 3 | |
| Fruit | — | 3 | 1 | 27½ |
| Nuts | — | 15 | — | — |
| Flour and Flour Mixture | — | 7 | 2 | 24 |
| Cereals | — | 3 | — | |
| Miseellaneous | — | 3 | 2 | |
| Tins or jars of assorted foods | 12,531 | |||
| Shell eggs | 2,000 | |||