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 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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The following table shows the average percentages of milk fat and non-fat solids of the genuine samples of these milks taken during each months-
| Month | No. of samples taken | Average percentages | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk fats | Non-fat solids | |||
| January | 11 | 4.55 | 9.06 | |
| February | 7 | 4.24 | 8.90 | |
| March | 6 | 4.63 | 9.07 | |
| April | 10 | 4.41 | 8.91 | |
| May | 8 | 4.40 | 9.10 | |
| June | 9 | 4.38 | 9.01 | |
| July | 14 | 4.36 | 8.94 | |
| August | 5 | 4.56 | 8.89 | |
| September | 11 | 4.50 | 9.01 | |
| October | 8 | 4.64 | 9.01 | |
| November | 8 | 4.51 | 9.04 | |
| December | 2 | 4.55 | 8.85 | |
| Average for whole year | 4.46 | 8.98 | ||
| Legal minimum standards | 4.00 | 8.50 | ||
Unsound food
Seizure
Under Part 1 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955> 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.
During 1958 there was one occasion when it was found necessary
to enforce this procedure. This concerned the offering for sale of
bananas which were unsound. They were seized and taken before a Justice
of the Peace who condemned them as being unfit for human consumption.
The Public Health Committee directed that a warning should be
sent in this case.
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