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 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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35
Where samples of ice-cream made at premises in the Borough
receive unsatisfactory reports, the premises, plant, and methods of
operation are examined, and, where possible, improvements are
suggested.
Foreign Matter in Food.
There were 14 instances of foreign matter in food dealt with
during the year, and in 13 of them cautionary letters were sent to the
Persons concerned. In one case a summons was issued and a fine of
£3 obtained with £2 2s. Od. costs to the Council. This was in connection
with a piece of cloth in a bun.
| Beer | 354 bottles. |
| Cakes and biscuits | 1 St. |
| Cheese | 1 cwt., 1 st„ 1 lb. |
| Cordials and fruit juices | 3 tins, 513 bottles. |
| Cream | 3 tins. |
| Eggs | 61. |
| Fish (wet) | 5 cwts., 3 qtrs., 7 lbs. |
| Fish (preserved) | 159 tins. |
| Flour and cereals | 1 qtr., 1st., 3 lbs., 6 tins. |
| Fruit (fresh) | 26 barrels of grapes. |
| Fruit (preserved) | 635 tins. |
| Jams and preserves | 20 tins, 23 jars. |
| Meat (fresh) | 15 cwts., 3 qtrs., 1 St., 12 lbs. |
| Meat, meat products (preserved) | 7 cwts., 1 qtr., 8 lbs., 818 tins. |
| Milk (tinned) | 75 tins. |
| Mussels | 4 bags. |
| Offal | 5 cwts., 6 lbs. |
| Peanuts | 4 lbs. |
| Poultry | 32 lbs., 6 tins, 2 jars. |
| Pudding and cake mixture | 6 tins. |
| Soups and gravy preparations | 75 tins. |
| Savouries | 6 jars, 2 tubes. |
| Vegetables (preserved) | 601 tins. |
FOOD POISONING.
Two outbreaks of food poisoning occurred during the year—one
at a school, and the other originated at a cafe.
The school outbreak affected 20 children; the causative agent,
following laboratory investigation, proved to be Clostridium welchii.
those affected made a complete recovery.
The cafe outbreak affected 3 persons, and was caused by a
Phylococci infection. This was isolated from the remains of the
consumed. The staff of the cafe were all in a good state of
health, and the kitch and premises were in a clean condition. The
illness was of a short duration, recovery being complete in 24 hours.