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
Hammersmith 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hammersmith Borough]
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| Nature of Complaint | Action taken |
|---|---|
| Mouldy bread | Penalty £5 : 3 gns. costs |
| Mould on raspberries | Informal Action |
| Mould on custard tart | Warning letter |
| Weevils in macaroni | Warning letter |
| Dirty bottle of milk | Warning letter |
| Foreign body in corned beef | Reported to Ministry of Agr., Fish and Food. |
| Mould in apple turnover | Informal Action |
| Stale eggs | Taken up with vendor |
| Metal cap in bottle of milk | Informal Action |
| Black substance in bread | Informal Action |
| Dark substance in fish cake | Informal Action |
| Foreign body in carton of milk | Penalty £10 : 3 gns. costs |
| Match stick in fruit slice | Penalty £5 : 3 gns. costs |
Bacteriological Examination of Food
The following samples were submitted for bacteriological examination. These
examinations were made by the Public Health Laboratory Service, and in some
instances by the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene, Queen Square,
London:—
Ice Cream 29
Milk 69
Imitation Cream 7
Canned Frozen Egg 6
Ice lollies 2
Ice-Cream
Ice cream is manufactured at three premises in the Borough, two of which
are wholesale distributors. Most of the ice cream sold in the Borough is prepacked, but there is a steady increase in the amount of "soft" ice cream now being
sold, which calls for particular attention at the place of sale, where the ice cream
is frozen. The Ice Cream (Heat Treatment, etc.) Regulations, 1959, require that
where a can of sterilised ice cream mix is opened the mixture shall "be reduced
forthwith to a temperature of not more than 45°F and shall be kept at such a temperature until the freezing process has begun". It is the usual practice to place
the mix straight into the freezer from which it is served on demand, but it is
important that the above instruction should be observed and that great care should
be taken in cleaning the freezer.
During the year 28 samples of ice cream were taken for bacteriological examination and the methvlene blue test bv the Public Health Laboratorv Service.
The Methylene Blue test is recommended by the Ministry of Health as a guide for ascertaining the bacteriological cleanliness of ice cream, the time taken to decolourise Methylene Blue being recorded, and the samples graded as follows :-
| Provisional Grade | Time taken to decolourise Methylene Blue |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | ½ to 2 hours |
| 4 | Less than ½ hour |