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
Bermondsey 1962
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1962
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SAMPLING OF EGG PRODUCTS, 1962
Sampling of egg products to determine possible contamination
by Salmonella organisms was continued during 1962. In order to
obtain a punctual examination and rapid decision, the importers
paid for a considerable number of samples to be examined. These
results, like all others, were submitted for my approval in the first
instance.
The method of sampling was by batch numbers (signifying
packing dates and factories). Where a sample showed evidence of
contamination the whole batch was placed under detention and
later either re-exported or released for pasteurisation and high
temperature baking.
The main importations were of frozen whole egg from Australia,
South Africa and China and laboratory results showed the following
percentage of contaminated samples in each case:—
Australia 5.85%
South Africa 5.21%
China 13.15%
The total number of samples from all egg products found to be contaminated was 182 and the following table shows the type of contamination:—
| No. of samples | |
|---|---|
| Salmonella aberdeen | 2 |
| Salmonella anatum | 3 |
| Salmonella bareilly | 2 |
| Salmonella derby | 1 |
| Salmonella dublin | 1 |
| Salmonella enteritidis | 1 |
| Salmonella hessarek | 1 |
| Salmonella jerusalem | 1 |
| Salmonella meleagridis | 5 |
| Salmonella mission var. isangi | 1 |
| Salmonella montevideo | 21 |
| Salmonella newport | 2 |
| Salmonella norwich | 1 |
| Salmonella oranienburg | 2 |
| Salmonella paratyphi B | 4 |
| Salmonella potsdam | 5 |
| Salmonella pretoria | 1 |
| Salmonella st. Paul | 1 |
| Salmonella senftenberg | 1 |
| Salmonella thompson | 22 |
| Salmonella typhi-murium | 103 |
| Salmonella virchow | 1 |
| 182 |