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
Wandsworth 1968
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]
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Bacteriological examination of food
One hundred and forty-one food samples were examined bacteriologically at the Public Health Laboratory during the year, and details are given below : —
| Milk | 24 |
| Cream | 15 |
| Ice-cream | 93 |
| Miscellaneous | 9 |
| Total | 141 |
Milk
The 24 samples of milk submitted to the turbidity test were
reported to be satisfactory.
Ice-cream
The 93 samples of ice-cream were examined at the Public Health
Laboratory by the methylene-blue test. The grading is determined
by the length of time taken to decolourize the methylene-blue,
grade 1 indicating the highest standard bacteriologically.
The following table gives a summary of the results: —
| Grade | Number of Samples |
|---|---|
| 1 | 52 |
| 2 | 15 |
| 3 | 11 |
| 4 | 15 |
| Total | 93 |
Cream
The 15 samples were submitted for tests in respect of brucella
abortus and salmonella but no organisms were isolated.
Miscellaneous
The nine miscellaneous food samples proved to be free from
pathogenic organisms.
Analysis of food and drugs
During the year 1,000 samples of food and drugs were submitted
for analysis; 100 samples of milk, 803 other foodstuffs
and 97 drugs. Of these 30 were submitted as formal samples,
while 970 were purchased informally. Three of the formal samples
and 73 of the informal samples were found to be adulterated or
below standard, representing 7.6 per cent. of the total samples
submitted.
Details of these 76 samples are given in the Report on the
work of the Public Analyst which follows.