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
Battersea 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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29
Street Stalls.
All street stalls from which food for human consumption is sold
are regularly inspected and, where the food sold is stored in the Borough,
the storage places are also inspected. It was not found necessary
to take any formal action during the year.
Unsound Food.
| Fish (preserved) | 1,768 tins, 13 boxes |
| Fish (wet) | 51 boxes |
| Meat and sausages (preserved) | 1,546 tins, 6 cases, 326 lbs. |
| Meat and sausages (fresh) | 966½ lbs. |
| Poultry and game | 476 lbs., 6 tins, 6 crates |
| Vegetables (preserved) | 1,488 tins |
| Vegetables (fresh) | 7½ cwts., 536 cases |
| Fruit and fruit juices (preserved) | 725 tins and bottles |
| Fruit and fruit juices (fresh) | 356½ lbs., 24 baskets |
| Milk | 1,742 tins |
| Eggs (dried) | 2 tins |
| Eggs (shell) | 995 eggs |
| Eggs (liquid) | 148 lbs. |
| Fats | 74 lbs. |
| Suet | 22 packets |
| Cheese | 336½ lbs., 164 packets |
| Bread | 26 loaves |
| Cakes and biscuits | 22½ lbs. |
| Flour and cereals | 80 lbs., 25 packets |
| Tea | 82½ lbs. |
| Sugar | 38 lbs. |
| Jams, syrups and preserves | 357 tins and jars |
| Pickles and sauces | 315 jars and bottles |
| Paste (meat and fish) | 30 tins and jars |
| Patent foods and beverages | 43 tins, 1¼ lbs. |
| Sweets and chocolate | 32¾ lbs., 24 packets |
| Puddings | 8½ lbs., 85 packets, 53 tins |
| Soups | 314 tins |
| Spaghetti | 20 tins |
| Gravy thickening | 1 bottle |
Eleven cases of the presence of foreign matter in food came
to light during the year. All were reported to the Health Committee,
on whose instructions legal proceedings/ were taken in four cases.
The proceedings were all successful, fines totalling £6 10s. being
imposed and £12 12s. costs awarded to the Council. The remaining
seven cases were dealt with by cautionary letter.
Food Poisoning.
During the year nine cases of food poisoning were notified. All
were isolated cases and of a minor nature, and call for no special
comment.