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 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hammersmith Borough]
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Milk Supplies
There are two milk processing depots in the Borough, one of which is now
given over almost completely to the production of milk products. In the
case of the one where milk is processed, the assembly of the milk at the
plant is as previously, namely by road tanker and railway sidings. In
this depot there are four H.T.S.T. pasteuring plants in which the milk is
heated to and retained at a temperature of 161°F for 15 seconds and then
cooled to below 50oF in accordance with the requirements of the Milk
(Special Designation) Regulations. All milk from this depot is distributed
in bottles or churns, Alterations to the whole layout of the plant continued
during the year and at regular intervals the Senior Food" Inspector
checks the efficiency and working temperatures of the plant, as well as
taking samples therefrom. All samples taken at the plant during the year
were found to be satisfactory. The year also saw the completion of the
change to four high speed bottle filling machines.
At the milk products plant the processing of cream increased enormously
and the alterations to the plant to achieve this expansion were completed
by the autumn. Bacteriological and chemical samples of the imported cream
were regularly taken at the plant.
255 were registered for the sale of milk and 675 licences were in force
at the year end classified as follows:-
f
Untreated 110
Pasteurised 225
Sterilised 197
Ultra Heat Treated 143
63 samples of designated milk were taken from milk processing plants and distributors and automatic vending machines. These samples were submitted to the Phosphatase, Methylene Blue and Turbidity tests, the results of which are set out below:-
| Class of Milk | No. Tested | Phosphatase Tests | Methylene Blue Tests | Turbidity Tests | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pasteurised | Passed | Failed | Passed | Failed | Passed | Failed | |
| 61 | 61 | Nil | 60 | 1 | Nil | Nil | |
| Sterilised | 2 | — | — | 2 | Nil | ||
Markets
There are seven markets in the Borough, five of which are street trading
sites. In two of the street trading sites the number of stalls is one
only. The street trader seems to be a source of attraction with only
slightly diminishing interest shown by members of the public. The relevant
legislation is the Food Hygiene (Markets, Stalls and Delivery Vehicles)
Regulations, 1966. The alternative temporary storage accommodation provided
in Coomber Mews for those North End Road traders whose storage accommodation
was demolished to make way for the West Kensington Housing Development
was damaged by fire during the year and a start made on another temporary
site on the south side of Coomber Road.
B.29