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36
Food Poisoning.
During the year 4 cases of food poisoning were notified. All
were isolated cases and of a minor nature, and call for no special
comment.
On 15th and 16th July, 1953, an outbreak of food poisoning
occurred in two Battersea schools. The outbreak affected 10 members
of the staff and 117 children. Fortunately the illness was mild in
character and the symptoms subsided within 12 hours. The cases were
not formally notified. With regard to the cause of the outbreak, a
spray skim milk powder came under immediate suspicion. The powder
had been employed as a cold mix for a school meal. Bacteriological
examination of a sample of the powder revealed the presence of the
infecting organism, staphylococcus aureus. The powder was withdrawn
from use and no more cases occurred.
(B)—SAMPLING OF FOOD AND DRUGS.
The analysis of samples of food and drugs, procured under the
provisions of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, or informally (i.e., without
following the procedure prescribed by the Act) is carried out by the
Public Analyst for the Borough (J. E. Woodhead, Esq., B.sc., F.R.I.C.,
ph.c.) at his laboratory at 325 Kennington Road, London, S.E.11.
The Public Analyst had also carried out the examination of
samples of heat-treated milk and of ice cream by the prescribed tests
since the inception of those tests, but as from 21st September, 1953.
this particular work was transferred to the Public Health Laboratory
Service. As the latter Service make no charge for this work, the
arrangement enabled an increase to be made in the number of samples
for chemical, etc., analysis submitted to the Public Analyst while
keeping within the sum provided in the Annual Estimates.
The total number of formal samples taken under the Act during
1953 was 304, of which 8, or 2.6 per cent., were certified to be
adulterated. In addition, 211 informal samples were procured, of which
6, or 2.8 per cent., were reported against.