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
Kensington 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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37
THE FOOD SUPPLY.
All premises in the Borough where food is sold or prepared for sale are regulated by
Section 8 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1908. Premises where milk is
sold are required to be kept in accordance with the Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops Order, 1885,
and the Regulations made thereunder by the Council. Unsound food is dealt with under Section 47
of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891. Proceedings in cases of adulteration are instituted under
the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.
MILK SUPPLY.
At the end of the year the Register kept by the Council and revised from time to time in
accordance with the requirements of the Milkshops Order, 1885, contained the names of 201
persons carrying on the trade of purveyors of milk on premises within the Borough.
Under Section 5 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1908, the Council are
authorised to remove from or refuse to enter upon the Register the name of any person proposing
to sell milk on premises which are for any reason unsuitable for the purpose.
Whilst reserving to themselves the right to object to premises on any reasonable grounds, the
Council, have by resolution expressed the opinion that the presence in a milkshop of such articles
as paraffin, loose pickles, fish, fresh meat, fruit, vegetables or coals constitutes a source of
contamination, and renders the shop unsuitable for the sale of milk.
During the year 17 applications for registration were received from persons who proposed to
sell milk, and in each case the application was granted. The names of two milk purveyors in
general shops who were found to have resumed the sale of paraffin oil on their premises were
removed from the register. The alterations made in the Register of Milk Purveyors during the
year 1913 are summarised in the following Table:—
| Class of Premises. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milkshops. | General Stores. | Restaurants. | Totals. | |
| Transferred | 8 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| Vacated and removed from Register | 4 | 5 | 1 | 10 |
| Premises added to Register | 1 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| On Register December 31, 1912 | 127 | 43 | 35 | 205 |
| On Register December 31, 1913 | 124 | 43 | 34 | 201 |
| Increase + Decrease — | -3 | ±0 | -1 | -4 |
The inspection of dairies and milkshops made during the year numbered 1,295, and notices
were served requiring the remedy of defects which were found on 9 of the premises visited.
Cowsheds.-—The only milk produced within the Borough comes from a small cowshed in the
Walmer Road, where four cows are kept. In the absence of any ground for complaint the occupier's
licence was renewed by the London County Council at the licensing sessions held in October.