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
Greenwich 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]
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73
Wise application of many branches of science is required for
the production and distribution of a pure milk supply. The
hygienic handling of milk is of vital importance to the health and
well-being of the nation and the eradication of bovine Tuberculosis,
Typhoid and Undulant Fever, Diarrhoea and many other diseases is
largely dependent on this factor. It is, therefore, to be expected
that this commodity formed the largest class of food sampled during
the year.
Milk Supply.—The supply of milk continues to be under the
direction of the Milk Marketing Board who, in this connection, act
as agents to the Ministry of Food. The greater proportion of the
milk which enters the Borough originates from the Home Counties
and the remainder, which is of a higher fat content, arrives from
Devon and the Channel Islands.
Milk and Dairies Regulations 1949.—Under the provisions of
these Regulations each person retailing milk in the Borough must
be registered as a Distributor. At the commencement of the year
83 persons were so registered and, allowing for additions to and
deletions from this list, the number of Distributors registered at the
end cf the year was 94, which total includes a Distributor registered
for the sale of cream as legislated for under the Cream (Revocation)
Order, 1951.
At the beginning of the year 8 premises were registered as
Dairies, being premises where milk is handled and not retailed in
the unopened containers in which it is received. One Daily ceased to
operate, leaving a total of 7 registered dairy premises at the 31st
December, 1951.
On 124 occasions the premises of distributors and dairies were visited, other than for sampling purposes, and as a result of these inspections the following defects were detected and remedied:—
| Shops cleansed and painted | 5 |
| Hot and cold water installeel | 2 |
| Water closet defect made good | 1 |
| Refrigerator installed | 1 |
| Dairy cleansed and limewashed | 1 |
| Washing facilities improved | 1 |
The Milk (Special Designation) (Pasteurised and Sterilised
Milk) Regulations, 1949 and 1950 and The Milk (Special Designation)
(Raw Milk) Regulations, 1949 and 1950.—All milk now sold in the
Borough has been Sterilised, Pasteurised or Tuberculin Tested and
the use of these Special Designations in relation to the sale of milk
is prohibited under the above Regulations unless the distributor is
licensed for the use of same. The special designation "Accredited"