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
Hampstead 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead Borough]
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39
FOOD SAMPLING
(a) Bacteriological examination of food stuffs
This service is undertaken by the Central Public
Health Laboratory. I am greatly indebted to Colonel
H.J. Benstead, the Director of the Laboratory, for unfailing
co-operation and help.
Details of the ice cream and milk samples submitted
to bacteriological examination appear under the respective
headings. 51 other samples were taken for examination.
Some were routine samples; others for confirmation of unsound
or defective tinning, etc. and a proportion were from suspected
cases of food poisoning.
The following table shows the variety of the examination: made and the results thereof:-
| Nature of Sample | No. of Samples | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cockles | 18 | 18 | - |
| Whelks | 11 | 11 | — |
| Mussels | 2 | 2 | — |
| Eels | 3 | 3 | — |
| Jellied Eels | 3 | 3 | — |
| Prawns | 1 | 1 | — |
| Tank Water | 3 | 3 | — |
| Tap Water | 1 | 1 | - |
| Chocolate Lolly | 1 | 1 | - |
| Candy Floss Powder | 1 | l | - |
| Liver Pate | 1 | l | - |
| Smoked Saithe | 2 | - | 2 |
| Tinned Tomatoes | 1 | - | 1 |
| Ham | 1 | - | 1 |
| Bacon | 1 | — | 1 |
| Soup | 1 | l | — |
| TOTALS: | 51 | 46 | 5 |