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
Wimbledon 1960
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]
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UNSOUND FOOD.
Following the closing down of the Corporation's refuse disposal works at
the end of 1955, arrangements were made with Merton and Morden U.D.C. for the
reception of unsound food surrendered to the Health Department. This system is
still operating satisfactorily.
The following is a list of unsound food surrendered during 1960;-
| Cwts. | qrs. | lbs. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canned soups | 1 | 2 | |
| Canned meat | 6 | 1 | 22 |
| Canned fish | 27 | ||
| Canned vegetables | 3 | 25 | |
| Canned fruit | 3 | 2 | 21 |
| Canned milk or cream | 1 | 1 | |
| Meat, bacon, poultry, etc. | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Fish | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Cheese, butter, fat | 9 | ||
| Sugar, jam and syrup | 1 | 4 | |
| Flour and cereals | 5 | ||
| Salt, pickles, sauces | 1 | 6 | |
| Sausages | 3 | 1 | 9 |
| Spaghetti | 1 | 1 | |
| Frozen food | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| Confectionery | 10 | ||
| Beverages | 12 | ||
| Meat pies | 2 | ||
| Dried fruit | 2 | ||
| Canned puddings | 14 | ||
| 26 | 0 | 26 |
The number of complaints received during the year regarding unsound food
was 105. These included references to extraneous matter in food and a detailed
investigation was made in each case. Informal action was taken in the majority
of cases, but in three instances it was necessary to institute legal proceedings.
Particulars of these proceedings are referred to later in this Report.
The complaints of extraneous matter in food included the following:-
Rubber band in Polish rye bread.
Foreign matter in bottle of yoghurt.
Foreign matter in loaves of bread.
Foreign matter in steak and kidney pie crust.
Mineral matter in fruit loaf.
Cigarette end in carton of caster sugar.*
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