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
Fulham 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Fulham Borough]
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Details of the more important improvements which have been effected in food premises during the year are given below:-
| Wash-hand basins | 2 |
| Water heaters | 10 |
| New sinks provided | 5 |
| New W. C. s. provided | 3 |
| W. C's, repaired and cleansed | 8 |
| Kitchens, preparation rooms etc. redecorated | 78 |
| Floors renewed or repaired | 12 |
| Shops fronts repaired or redecorated | 7 |
| New dustbins | 20 |
| Counter cases for the protection of food | 8 |
| New windows | 3 |
| Improvements to ventilation | 5 |
| Counter refrigerators | 6 |
| Gas stoves repaired or renewed | 7 |
| New refrigerators | 6 |
| New counters | 4 |
| Premises re- designed | 5 |
| Yards cleaned and repaired | 16 |
| Refuse removed | 11 |
Under the provisions of Section 14 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, premises used for
the preparation of certain specified articles of food must be registered with the local
authority.
At the end of 1955. there were 75 premises on the Register concerned in the preparation
of preserved foods and 229 premises on the Register relating to the manufacture or sale and
storage of ice cream, as follows:-
Premises registered for the manufacture, storage and sale of ice cream 3
Premises registered for storage and sale of ice cream 226
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF "CREAM" FILLED CONFECTIONERY
During 1955, 182 samples of synthetic and "butter" cream used as a filling in eclairs,
doughnuts, slices etc, were purchased for bacteriological examination In addition 22
samples of egg albumen and similar products used in the preparation of icing, meringues,
etc., were taken in various bakeries in the Borough.
The importance of scrupulous cleanliness and care by persons handling this type of
confectionery cannot be over emphasized when one remembers that the cream filling is an
excellent medium for the growth of bacteria, and is not subject to any form of heat treatment
before consumption. The following is a summary of the examination of the 182 samples
Free from bacillus coliform 62
Bacillus coliform (non faecal) present in 78
Bacillus coliform (faecal) present in 19
Staphylococcus Aureus present in 19
Staphylococcus Aureus and Bacillus coliform (faecal) present in 4
The 42 specimens in which undesirable organisms were reported to be present may be
summarised as follows