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 and Chelsea 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington & Chelsea Borough]
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Informal samples totalling 1,104 were submitted for analysis, of which 80 were
either adulterated or otherwise unsatisfactory. Sixteen formal samples were also submitted
for analysis, of which eight were either adulterated or otherwise unsatisfactory. Legal
proceedings were authorised in respect of six of the formal samples. The remaining two
formal samples were dealt with satisfactorily on an informal basis.
The results of all unsatisfactory samples were brought to the notice of the
producers, manufacturers or vendors as appropriate.
Complaints
During the year, 208 complaints were received from members of the public alleging
the unsatisfactory condition of food purchased by them in the borough. The complaints
generally related to the presence of foreign matter in foods and the unsatisfactory condition
of meat, fish, sausage, pies, fruit, bread, sweets, cakes, milk, cheese, wine, spirits, beer,
vegetables, yoghurt, soft drinks, poultry, eggs, coffee, potato crisps, butter, cream, biscuits,
rice, sandwiches, etc.
Of these complaints, legal proceedings were authorised in respect of seventeen cases
and warning letters were sent in twelve instances. The remaining 179 cases were dealt with
informally, either owing to lack of sufficient evidence, or to the complaint not being
substantiated.
Surrender
During the year, the following amounts of food were surrendered and condemned as unfit for human consumption:
| Commodity | Weight (in lbs.) |
|---|---|
| Offal | 560 |
| Meat (raw) | 1,120 |
| Cooked meat and meat products | 8,248 |
| Canned meats | 531 |
| Other canned foods | 2,388 |
| Frozen foods | 2,939 |
| Other foods | 628 |
| TOTAL | 16,414 |
All food condemned as unfit for human consumption is collected by the Council,
taken to the refuse destructor in Fulham, and destroyed.
Milk (Special Designation) Regulations, 1963
Milk Licences
These Regulations, as amended by the Milk (Special Designation) (Amendment)
Regulations, 1965, require that all milk sold by retail in England and Wales shall be specially
designated, and that retailers must be licensed by the local authority to sell such milk.
Licences are issued by the Council for a five-year period and all current licences are valid
until the end of 1975.
The number of licences granted by the Council during the year in respect of each
designation, together with the total number in force at the end of the year, are shown in the
following table: