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
Islington 1924
Sixty-ninth annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Metropolitan Borough of Islington
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49
[1924
INSPECTION AND EXAMINATION OF FOOD AND PLACES WHERE
FOOD IS PREPARED.
Food—Inspection of.—Inspector Wilkinson reports that during the year
he has paid 778 visits to the 11 Slaughter Houses now on the register, including
one Horse Slaughter House, and that he has ascertained that 12,202 animals
were killed therein, namely, 670 oxen and cow s, 60 calves, 5,854 sheep and lambs,
and 5,678 horses for human consumption, practically the whole of which were
exported. These were mostly of good quality and free from disease, but in 2G
cases meat and organs found to be diseased were destroyed (vide table on page 51).
The food destroyed or otherwise disposed of (chiefly for pigs' food) so as to prevent its use for human food was as follows:—
| Tons. | cwts. | qrs. | lbs. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diseased meat and organs from slaughter-houses | — | 5 | 3 | 0* |
| Diseased or unsound meat, etc., from other sources | — | 3 | 0 | 11 |
| Ox Feet rendered unsound during transit | — | 3 | 0 | 11 |
| Corned Beef imperfectly preserved | — | 1 | 0 | 27 |
| Fish | — | 17 | 2 | 16 |
| Fruit, Vegetables, etc. | 9 | — | — | 8 |
| Unwholesome Fruit Pulp from Jam Factory | — | 6 | 2 | 17 |
| Total | 10 | 17 | 2 | 6 |
* Of this quantity 3 cwt. 11 lbs. was Tuberculous.
The total amount of unsound or diseased meat, fish, fruit, and other food
destroyed was 10 tons 17 cwts. 2 qrs. G lbs. The diseases which affected animal
food are set out in detail on page 57.
Shops, etc , Inspection of.—The 636 shops and places where foodstuffs
are sold may be approximated for the year as follows:—
Butchers, provision dealers, etc., shops, 2.'30 ; meat, provisions, rabbits, tinned
foods, etc., stalls, 20; food preparation establishments, 12; fish shops, 101; fish
stalls, 10; fruit shops, 200; and about 60 fruit, etc., stalls and barrows. To these
18,397 visits were paid, apportioned as follows
Butchers, Provision Dealers, etc., Shops7,419 visits.
Food Preparation Establishments 133 ,,
Butcher, Provision, etc., Stalls 1,639 ,,
Fish Shops 1,315 ,,
Fish Stalls 672 ,,
Fruit Shops 2,713 ,,
. Fruit Stalls 1,506 ,,
Total 18,397 ,,
Restaurant Kitchens.—The work of inspecting restaurant kitchens is
tabulated under Workshops. This work is done by two Lady Inspectors. Cleanliness
in the preparation of food is of the utmost importance, as any contamination
may result in food poisoning, and though undoubtedly many cases of food poisoning
are very slight, only resulting apparently in a transient attack of diarrhœa,
occasionally public attention is drawn to rapid and fatal cases. It is thus apparent
that the inspection of places where food is prepared is work of great importance.