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45
London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1932.
Registration of Food Premises.
At the date of the preparation of this report 54 premises were registered in
accordance with the requirements of the Act, for the purposes shown below:—
Sausages 19
Preserved meat 20
Pickled meat 7
Preserved fish 8
All the premises concerned were carefully inspected prior to registration.
Notification of Food Poisoning.
During the year 1936 three cases of suspected food poisoning were notified.
In one case the poisoning was said to be due to roast chicken with sausage
stuffing purchased at a retailer's shop in the Borough. On enquiry it was
ascertained that the chicken in question was from an imported consignment,
received frozen and subsequently thawed, gutted, stuffed and cooked. The
premises occupied by the retailer, and the food stored or exposed for sale, were
carefully inspected. The patient recovered. No other cases arose from the same
suspected source of infection.
The other two patients were members of one family (female, aged 25, and
male, aged 22 years). Both suffered from acute gastritis thought by them to arise
from the eating of cherries. Of the three members in the family, two, the patients,
both partook of the cherries; the third member, did not eat cherries and was not
ill. On enquiry it was found that the cherries had been boiled in an enamel
saucepan with white sugar. Some cherries similar to those eaten, and the
saucepan, were examined by the Borough Analyst who reported that he found no
trace of antimony, zinc, or other poisonous metal. A portion of the enamel of
the saucepan was also examined, but on analysis no antimony, arsenic, lead or
zinc was detected. A reaction was obtained for a trace of tin. Both patients
recovered.
In view of the risk of antimony poisoning due to the use of enamelled vessels
of inferior quality for the preparation of lemonade and other acid drinks, opportunity
was taken to issue a circular letter to the proprietors of confectionery shops
and restaurants, where such beverages are sold, drawing attention to the outbreaks
of food poisoning arising from this source in recent years and stressing the
importance, not only of every possible care being taken in the preparation of acid
drinks, but also that the greatest care should be given to the choice of jugs and
other vessels in which such drinks are stored.
Information of all notified cases of food poisoning in the County of London
is distributed to Medical Officers of Health by the County Medical Officer.
Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933.
One application was received and granted from a slaughterman for renewal
of licence to slaughter under Section 3 of the Act.