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

Merton and Morden 1950

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]

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Table: Unsound Food.The undermentioned articles of food were found, upon inspection, to be unfit for human consumption; were surrendered and either destroyed or disposed of for animal feeding or salvage: —

Unsound Food.The undermentioned articles of food were found, upon inspection, to be unfit for human consumption; were surrendered and either destroyed or disposed of for animal feeding or salvage: —

Description.Amount.Cause.
Beef1,071 lbs.Putrefaction, bruising and bone taint.
Mutton32 lbs.Contamination, caseous lymphadenitis.
Bacon119 lbs.Putrefaction and taint.
Lamb Livers40 lbs.Mould.
Oxtails27 lbs.Contamination.
Ox Sweetbreads16 lbs.Decomposition.
Fish185 stoneDecomposition.
Cereals67 pkts.Affected by mites and mould.
Sponge and792 pkts.Mildewed, deterioration.
Cake Mixture Sweets4 lbs.Glass particles.
Meat Pies19Mouldy and stale.
Potatoes4 lbs.Unsound.
Eggs135Mouldy.
Cake16 lbs.Mouldy.
Sausages80 lbs.Mouldy.
Fish Paste295 jarsPutrefaction and Mould.
Luncheon Meat4 lbs.Putrefaction.
Chocolate Vermicelli4 lbs.Staleness.
Cheese18 pkts.Contamination.
Shrimps3 gall.Decomposition.
Prawns25 lbs.Decomposition.
Biscuits40 lbs.Contamination.
Dried Milk112 lbs.Mice contamination.
Currants4 lbs.Mouldy.
Sauce960 bottlesStale.
Roasted Peanuts13½ lbs.Contamination.
Pearl Barley56 lbs.Weevil infestation.
Macaroni6 lbs.Staleness.
Prunes304 lbs.Mouldy.
Figs42 lbs.Maggot infestation.
Tinned Meat, Milk, Fish, Vegetables, Fruit, etc.12,443 tinsBlown, punctured, leaking, mouldy, sour and unsound.

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Contaminated Foodstuffs. Several complaints of foreign
objects in cakes, bread, jam, and other foods were received. All
were carefully investigated and, where appropriate, action was
taken — mostly by informal letter. In one case however where
rodent excreta was found in salted peanuts, the manufacturers
were prosecuted and a fine of £5 and £10 costs imposed.
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