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 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]
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| Article | How Obtained | Examination | Action Taken | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bact. or Chem. | Result | |||
| 1 tin of Australian canned Stewed Steak. | Stock held at Cold Storage plant. Canned in 1944. Tested for suitability for human con-sumption. | Chem. | Rather stale but not inedible or objectionable. | To be used immediately. |
| 2 tins Brazilian canned Stewed Steak. | Stock held at Cold Storage plant. Canned in 1944. Tested for suitability for human consumption. | Chem. | Interior of tin badly corroded. Contents discol-oured. Objection-able metallic taste. Tin-1 grain per lb. | Unfit for human consumption. Senl for pig food. |
| Piece of cooked Loin of Beef. | Gift from U.S.A to sufferer from food poisoning. Suspected food. | Baot. | No pathogens isolated. | Information " passed to patient. |
| Chocolate sauce. | Investigated as being cause of food poisoning. | Bact. | No pathogens isolated. | |
| Beef Sausage Meat, frozen. | Special Investi-gation at Ware-house. | Chem. | Genuine sample. | Details passed to Warehouse - Manager. |
| Fork and Veal Sausage Meat. | Special Investi-gation at Ware-house. | Chem. | Genuine sample. | |
| 4 samples of Mince-meat. | Taken from different casks at cold storage plant to ascer-tain if fit for human con-sumption. | Chem. | Was a high grade mincemeat. Some-what stale and fermenting smell and taste. Mince pies made from the samples con-sidered edible. | Should be used in moderation for catering purposes and cooked well. Company notified. |
| 2 tins of Pork Sausages. | Taken from cold storage plant to test regarding suitability for human con-sumption. | Chem. | Fit for human con-consumption. | Company notified accordingly. |
| 1 tin Diced Beetroot. | Taken from the Dreadnought School, Tunnel Avenue. Com-plaint of dis-colourisation and bitterness. | Chem. | Had unpleasant taste and turned dark brown on opening due to oxidation of fer-rous iron to dark ferric compounds. | Stock destroyed. |