London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Chelsea 1940

Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chelsea, 1940

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60
Ice Cream Vendors.— At the end of the year, 40 premises were
shown in the Register as places where ice-cream is prepared or sold.
There were 2.0 inspections of these premises
This trade is mainly regulated under the Public Health
(London) Act, 1936. It is an offence to store ice-cream in a sleeping
room or in any shed or room in which there is an inlet to a drain.
Vendors of ice-cream must notify the occurrence of infectious disease
among their employees or persons living on their premises. The
Act also provides that every itinerant vendor shall exhibit on his
barrow the name and address of the person from whom the ice-cream
has been obtained.
Fried Fish Vendors.—At the end of the year there were 14 premises
in which the frying of fish was carried on and 20 inspections of these
premises were made. It is found that a reasonable standard of cleanliness
is now being maintained, but it is necessary for the Inspectors to maintain
a constant vigilance to impress upon the vendors the necessity for the
systematic observance of cleanliness.
Inspection of Other Premises where Food is Prepared or Offered
for Sale.—The Inspectors keep under frequent observation all other
premises where food is prepared for or exposed for sale. Included in this
category are restaurants and premises used by provision dealers, butchers,
fishmongers and greengrocers for the purposes of their trades.
Table No. 33 (page 46) shows, for the past two years, the number of
inspections of premises where food was prepared for or exposed for sale.
Unsound Food. During the year, During the year, unsound food was surrendered
and destroyed, including 1,566 eggs; 172½ lbs. mutton
and lamb; 53 lbs. beef; 2,049 lbs. Pork; 110 lbs. kidneys; 74lbs bacon
51 lbs. harm (cooked); 267 rabbits; 367 lbs. fish; 84 loaves; 400 lbs. flour,
27 lbs. butter; and 36 lbs. greens.
*
No carcases were destroyed on account of Tuberculosis.
Food Poisoning.— No case of food poisoning occurred during the
year.
Food and Drugs Act, 1938.—Four hundred
samples, including 95 samples of milk were
taken and submitted for analysis during the year. These samples were
investigated by the Public Analyst to the Borough, whose Report is set
out in the appendix.
Each of the four male Sanitary Inspectors is appointed an Inspector
under the Act Under their direction, the taking of samples is effected
by individuals temporarily employed for the purpose, the services of
persons outside the Borough being frequently utilised.
The samples procured are of two kinds—formal and informal. Formal
samples are those taken strictly in conformity with the Act. Informal
samples are those taken without these strict formalities and afford useful
indication of the conditions without disclosing to the vendor that the
object of purchase is analysis.
* Numerous visits were made by the Sanitary inspectors at
premises damaged by enemy action with a view to the
vage of foods at such premises.