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 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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The following table shows percentages of milk fats and non-fat solids of the genuine samples taken during each month:-
| Month | No. of samples taken | Average percentages | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk fats | Non-fat solids | ||
| January | 48 | 3.68 | 8.59 |
| February | 23 | 3.84 | 8.67 |
| March | 27 | 3.56 | 8.57 |
| April | 18 | 3.35 | 8.57 |
| May | 32 | 3.38 | 8.74 |
| June | 30 | 3.43 | 8.77 |
| July | 27 | 3.52 | 8.72 |
| August | 26 | 3.67 | 8.68 |
| September | 13 | 3.71 | 8.75 |
| October | 29 | 3.73 | 8.79 |
| November | 41 | 3.72 | 8.74 |
| December | 17 | 3.92 | 8.85 |
| Average for whole year | 3.62 | 8.70 | |
| Legal minimum standards | 3.00 | 8.50 | |
Unsound food
Seizure
Under Sections 9 and 10 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938,
it is an offence to sell, offer, or expose for sale, or to be
in possession for the purpose of sale or preparation for sale,
food intended for human consumption which is in an unfit
condition. Such food can be seized and taken before a Justice
of the Peace who can condemn it, and order it to be destroyed
or disposed of for purposes other than human consumption.
In one case, portions of ham, in cellophane wrappers, said
to be vacuum-packed, were seized and taken before a Justice of
the Peace who condemned them and ordered them to be destroyed.
The ham had been imported from the continent in prepacked form
and full particulars were reported to the Ministry of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Food.
Surrender
Any person having in his possession, food which is diseased,
unsound, or unfit for human consumption can, under Section 180(8)
of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, surrender it to the
Council for destruction or other suitable method of disposal.
During the year the following amounts of food were surrendered
and condemned as unfit for human consumption:-