London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Battersea 1958

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]

This page requires JavaScript

Text

Copy text to clipboard

36
Foreign Matter in Food.
There were 5 instances of foreign matter in food dealt with during
the year, and in 4 of them cautionary letters were sent to the persons
concerned. In one case a summons was issued and a fine of £25
obtained with £4 16s. Od. costs to the Council. This was in connection
with a cake fouled by mice droppings.

Table: Unsound Food. The following table gives particulars of the unsound foodstuffs which, under the provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, Section 180 (8), were voluntarily surrendered to the Council.

Unsound Food. The following table gives particulars of the unsound foodstuffs which, under the provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, Section 180 (8), were voluntarily surrendered to the Council.

Butter3 lbs.
Cakes and biscuits8 pkts.
Cheese1 St., 1 lb.
Coffee5 tins.
Cream3 tins.
Fish (wet)6 cwts. 1 St., 8 lbs.
Fish (preserved)2 qtrs., 10 lbs., 83 tins, 10 jars.
Flour and cereals1 tin.
Fruit (fresh)29 crates of cherries.
Fruit (preserved)582 tins.
Jams and preserves46 tins, 14 jars.
Meat (fresh)1 ton, 5 cwts., 7 lbs.
Meat (preserved)1 ton, 13 cwts, 2 qtrs., 1 St., 1 lb., 363 tins.
Milk (tinned)38 tins.
Offal3 cwts., 12 lbs.
Paste (meat and fish)80 jars
Pickles, sauces, etc.14 tubes, 18 tins, 9 bottles
Poultry62 turkeys, 16 lbs., 4 tins.
12 chickens, 1 cwt., 1 qtr., 1 lb.
Rabbit8½ lbs.
Sandwich spread4 jars.
Soups and gravy preparations264 tins.
Vegetables (preserved)432 tins.

Text

Copy text to clipboard

Two complaints were received during the year concerning pies.,
which when purchased were found to be affected by mould. Following
the usual enquiries, the vendor in each case stated that the pie had
been sold in error for a fresh pie. A cautionary letter was sent to both
shop-keepers.

Table: FOOD POISONING. Nineteen cases of food poisoning were notified during the and 9 other cases were otherwise ascertained. In 17 cases the causitiveorganism was found to be Salmonella of the following types:—

FOOD POISONING. Nineteen cases of food poisoning were notified during the and 9 other cases were otherwise ascertained. In 17 cases the causitiveorganism was found to be Salmonella of the following types:—

2 cases
Bovis-morbificans4 „
Heidleberg2 „
Schwarzengrund1 case
Thompson1 „
Typhi-murium7 cases

Text

Copy text to clipboard

Two other cases were due to Staphylococci infection, and
other cases the agent was not identified.