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
Finsbury 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finsbury Borough]
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64
Bacteriological Examination of Food
The pathological laboratory has been used for the bacteriological
examinations of foodstuffs whenever suspicion of contamination has
arisen and to some extent as a routine measure of control
Apart from examinations of milk and ice cream details of which are given elsewhere, the following foodstuffs were also examined during 1955:-
| Shellfish | 5 |
| Synthetic Cream | 3 |
| Egg Albumen | 2 |
| Frozen Egg | 2 |
| Gelatine | 2 |
| Sausages | 3 |
| Pork Pie | 1 |
| Jellied Eels | 1 |
| Others | 7 |
| Total | 26 |
The bacterial quality of these goods was found to be generally
satisfactory and no pathogenic organisms were isolated This was in
accordance with the results in previous years.
Large quantities of Chinese egg albumen have been found to be
infected with Salmonella organisms. Owing to the impracticability of
sterilizing this commodity at present, such goods when found to be
infected have been released by Port Health Authorities for industrial
purposes only. In connection with this arrangement several Finsbury
firms, mostly engaged in the printing trades, have been interviewed
and warned of appropriate steps to be taken to prevent the spread of
infection.
Food Complaints
From time to time complaints are received from members of the
public in respect of alleged unsound food purchased from shops in the
Borough. There has been a very slight increase in the number of complaints
in recent years probably due to the public becoming more food
hygiene conscious as a result of educational publicity by the Government,
Local Authorities and the Press. Eighteen such complaints were
made last year ranging from insects and other foreign bodies in food