Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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Food | Tons | Cwt. | Qrs. | Lb. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Meat (raw) | 7 | 1 | 22 | |
Meat (tinned) | 17 | 2 | 27 | |
Ham | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Pish (wet and dry) | 12 | - | 7 | |
Sausage | 4 | - | 12 | |
Sugar | 1 | - | 12 | |
Cheese | 1 | 3 | ||
Dried Fruit | 2 | 1 | 27 | |
Sauerkraut | 1 | 3 | 21 | |
Cooking fats and butter | 1 | 3 | 27 | |
Rabbits (imported) | 1 | 16 | ||
TOTAL | 5 | 12 | 3 | 10 |
Tins, jars, packets or cartons of fruit, vegetables and miscellaneous foodstuffs 11,029 | ||||
All food condemned as unfit for human consumption is collected
by the Council, taken to their refuse destructor in Wood Lane and
destroyed. In no instance were large quantities of food involved,
necessitating special examination of stocks of food.
Complaints by purchasers of unfit food
During the year 21 complaints were received from members of the
public, alleging the unsatisfactory condition of food purchased by
them in the borough. The complaints generally related to the
presence of foreign matter in foods, mouldy condition of bread, and
the unsatisfactory condition of liver, meat, fishpaste and soups.
In all cases it was decided to take no legal action and the
complaints were dealt with informally, either owing to lack of
proper evidence, or to the complaint not being substantiated.
Adulteration of Food
During the year, 572 formal samples of food and drugs were
purchased, of which 10 (1.7%) were either adulterated or otherwise
unsatisfactory. 428 informal samples were also purchased, of which
18 (4.2%) were either adulterated or otherwise unsatisfactory. The
following table summarizes the action taken in respect of the
defective samples:-
Unsatisfactory sample
No. of
Prosecutions
No. of
warnings
to Producers,
Manufacturers
or
Vendors
No
further
action
Total
Instant Coffee 1 4 5
Chocolate 1 2 3
Milk 1 1 2 4
Evaporated milk - 1 1
Shredded Beef Suet - 2 2
Tomato Puree - 1 1 2
Canned Boneless Chicken - 1 1
Dessert Powder Fruit Soup mix - 1 1
Meat Pie - 1 1
Sausages (pork) - 1 1 2
Ground nutmeg - 1 - 1
Coloured coconut 1 1 2
Cochineal 2 2
Glace Cherries - 1 - 1
TOTALS: 6 5 17+ 28
+ In all cases the results of these unsatisfactory samples were brought
to the notice of the producers, manufacturers, or vendors as the case
may be.