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95
The Chief Medical Officer attributed the increase mainly to
the following causes :—
(a) Rechauffe meals ... Probably due to economy
pelled by food rationing.
(b) General increase in The practice in canteens etc., of
communal feeding cooking meats and making gravies
etc., the day before their use is
intended.
(c) Neglect of personal Often due to lack of facilities and
hygiene shortages of staff.
He suggested the following remedies :—
(1) Where meat is cooked the day before it is needed, it should be
cooled rapidly in special plant and stored overnight in a
refrigerator and heated thoroughly before use.
(2) Better still, all food should be prepared on the day it is to be
eaten.
Comments expressed by Sir John Charles, as outlined above,
have already been fully debated and given prominence in this and
my previous Reports and reiteration is therefore unnecessary.
Notification of Food Poisoning.—Under the provisions of
Section 17 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, every registered
medical practitioner attending on any person shall, if he suspects
or becomes aware that any person is suffering from food poisoning,
forthwith notify such case to the Medical Officer of Health.
Thirteen notifications were received during the year but in
one instance the diagnosis was not confirmed. The corrected
total of 12 compares with 6 for 1949 and 5 for 1948.
Every confirmed case was of the sporadic type and, despite
thorough investigation to ascertain the source of infection, in no
instance was direct connection with any specific food established.
All the infections were mild and recovery rapid and complete.