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
Orpington 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Orpington]
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34
SECTION F.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD.
Bye-laws for securing the observance of Sanitary and Cleanly
Conditions and Practices in connection with the Handling,
Wrapping and Delivery of Food and Sale of Food in the Open
Air were adopted by the Council in May, 1950, and came into
force on the 24th July, 1950.
Generally speaking, the task of improving the hygiene of
food premises has been made relatively easy by the willing
co-operation of managers and owners, but in the few cases where
standards are low and there is little evidence of willingness to
improve, the Food Bye-laws will be of great value, particularly
as they enable the Local Authority to deal with the actual
offender (i.e., the assistant), instead of the person in charge of
the business.
Food and Drugs Act, 1938.
Two hundred and ten samples of food were taken for analysis
under the above Act, 39 samples being formal. A further 115
samples were taken for bacteriological and pathological examination
and other special tests. Appendix 5 gives details of these
samples submitted for examination.
Eleven samples (three formal) were found to be inferior or adulterated and the following table gives a precis of the Analyst 's Reports and a brief description of the action taken.
| Sample | Analysts Report | Action taken |
|---|---|---|
| Grape Fruit (Informal) | Can affected and part blown. Contents 2.9 grains per lb. Adulterated. | This was one can of a doubtful batch reported to the department by a Grocery Store Manager. The remaining 70 cans were destroyed. |
| Baking Powder ............ (Informal) | Inferior due to the presence of some living small brown beetles. | Later identified as psocid, i.e., paper lice. Factory examined by Infestation Division of Ministry of Agriculture and found to be clean. Remainder of stock at Retailers premises free from infestation |