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 1961

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

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

CommodityLbs.TinsJarsPkts.Pints
Cheese12½
Fish (wet)1
Fish (preserved)242
Fruit (preserved)224899332
Meat (fresh)2,587
Meat (preserved)1,964418
Milk (tinned)12
Offal309¼
Poultry757¾
Sauces40
Soups837
Vegetables1539958
Other foods38½721591642

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One complaint was received concerning a pork pie, purchased from
a vending machine outside a food shop, which was found to contain
a mould growth. The firm concerned were prosecuted under Section 2
of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955. They pleaded "Guilty", and were
fined £25 and ordered to pay £3 costs.
FOOD POISONING.
Twelve cases of food poisoning were notified during the year, and
a further two cases were otherwise ascertained. In twelve cases the
causative organisms were found to be:—
Salmonella agana 1 case
Salmonella typhi-murium 10 cases
B. coli 1 case
The agents for the remaining two cases were not identified.
Of the ten cases of salmonella typhi-murium, five occurred in two
families.
In addition to the above cases there was an outbreak of Clostridium
welchi affecting 21 people who ate Christmas dinner in a staff canteen
situated within the Borough. The duration of the illness varied from
twelve to twenty-four hours, but the food causing the outbreak was not
identified. None of these cases were notified.