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 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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15
Basement Bakehouses.
Section 54 of the Factories Act, 1937, requires the Council
to inspect in every fifth year all basement bakehouses in the
borough in regard to which certificates of suitability have been
issued. If the Council are satisfied that a basement bakehouse
is suitable, the certificate will continue to operate.
Since the last survey in 1943, one basement bakehouse had
been demolished and another had ceased to be used as such.
There are now 28 basement bakehouses in the borough. All these
were inspected during the year, and in respect of 27 of them,
the certificates of suitability have been continued. In the
remaining case, the premises are not at the present time being
used for baking purposes, as the owner is proposing to carry
out works of alteration. If these works are carried out within
twelve months and are satisfactory, a certificate will be issued.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD
General
There are no abattoirs or slaughter-houses in the borough,
and no killing of animals for human consumption is carried out.
All premises where food is prepared, stored or exposed for sale for human consumption are frequently inspected and the following is a record of the inspections made by the Pood Inspectors engaged on this work for 19U8:-
| Pood factories 20 |
| Bakehouses - underground 82 |
| Ice-cream premises 272 |
| Preserved food premises 30 |
| Grocers 419 |
| Dairies 442 |
| Public houses237 |
| Greengrocers 145 |
| PishmongerSo158 |
| Restaurants and cafes389 |
| Hotels 109 |
| Sweetshops99 |
| General stores91 |
| Street traders1 premises 135 |
| other inspections: stalls911 |
In the early part of the year the Council gave much
consideration to the question of protection of the public food
supply and it was thought that the Food & Drugs Act, 1938, should
be extended to include the registration of all food premises with
power to cancel or refuse the registration of unsuitable premises.
The Council decided to carry out a comprehensive survey of all food
premises in the borough with the object of ascertaining the improvements
required in the light of modern standards and whether it is
desirable to urge the Minister of Health to make regulations under
Section 8 of the Food & Drugs Act, 1938o
The survey has now been completed and the task of collating
the results is proceeding. It was found, during the survey, that
certain premises needed repair or cleansing, and in all cases the
owners or occupiers have been required to carry out the necessary
works. It is intended to submit a report on the survey to the
Public Health Committee at the earliest opportunity.