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 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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- 56 -
sold, under the specific description of -
Channel Islands Milk
Jersey Milk
Guernsey Milk or
South Devon Milk
must contain not less than 4% by weight of milk fat. This compares with
the presumptive milk fat standard of 3% specified for ordinary milk by the
Sale of Milk Regulations, 1939.
During the year, one hundred and eight samples of these milks
have been taken and five of these have been found to be below the legal
standard laid down. The action taken; legal proceedings in three cases
and warnings in two cases, has already been mentioned previously in this
report.
The following table shows the average percentages of milk fat and non-fat solids of the genuine samples of these milks taken during each month
| Month | No. of samples taken | Average percentages | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk fats | Non-fat solids | |||
| January | 6 | 4.6l | 8.99 | |
| February | 11 | 4.44 | 8.77 | |
| March | 3 | 4.28 | 8.80 | |
| April | 8 | 4.33 | 8.97 | |
| May | 10 | 4.13 | 9.04 | |
| June | 6 | 4.36 | 8.98 | |
| July | 8 | 4.18 | 8.91 | |
| August | 2 | 4.45 | 8.85 | |
| September | 12 | 4.35 | 8.88 | |
| October | 15 | 4.38 | 8.92 | |
| November | 16 | 4.44 | 9.00 | |
| December | 6 | 4.47 | 9.02 | |
| Average for the whole year | 4.37 | 8.93 | ||
| Legal minimum standards | 4.00 | 8.50 | ||
Unsound food
Seizure
Under Part 1 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, it is an offence
to sell, offer, or expose for sale, or to be in possession for the
purpose of sale or preparation for sale, food intended for human
consumption which is in an unfit condition. Such food can be seized
and taken before a Justice of the Peace who can condemn it, and order
it to be destroyed or disposed of for purposes other than human
consumption.
During 1959 there was one occasion when it was found necessary
to enforce this procedure. This concerned the offering for sale of
chocolate biscuits which were found to be mouldy. They were seized
and taken before a Justice of the Peace who condemned them as being
unfit for human consumption.
The Public Health Committee directed that legal proceedings
be taken in this case.