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
Islington 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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76
1930]
quality and sound condition generally of the animals is shown by the fact that no
carcase, or part thereof, was found unfit for human food ; whilst the number of
diseased organs were very few, as will be seen in the table on page
TUBERCULOUS MEAT.
One butcher stallholder at the Metropolitan Cattle Market was prosecuted
under Sec. 47 Public Health (London) Act, 1891, for exposing for sale Tuberculous
Beef which was seized and accounted for in the Annual Report, 1929, the summons
not being heard until 17th January, 1930, when the defendant was fined £10 and
£5 f>s. Od. costs.
SALE OF FOOD ORDER, 1921.
One prosecution was taken for exposing for sale imported meat not properly
labelled. The defendant was fined £8 0s. 0d. and ordered to pay £1 1s. 0d. costs.
PUBLIC HEALTH (MEAT) REGULATIONS, 1924.
A prosecution was taken for exposing meat for sale from a stall not suitably
covered over and screened at the sides and back, and the defendant was fined
£1 0s. 0d. and £2 2s. 0d. costs.
CERTIFICATION OF MEAT FOOD PRODUCTS FOR SHIPMENT
ABROAD.
The Medical Officer of Health, as Designated Officer for Food Certification,
issued 44 certificates in respect of foods prepared in Islington and exported abroad
and to the Dominions.
UNSOUND FOOD DESTROYED.
The food destroyed or otherwise disposed of (chiefly for pigs' food) so as to prevent its use for human food was as follows:—
| Tons. | cwts. | qrs. | lbs. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diseased organs from slaughter-houses | — | 5 | 1 | 24 |
| Hsh surrendered in unsound condition | — | 4 | — | 14 |
| Tinned Fish and Fruits (Blown) | — | 2 | 1 | 24 |
| Decomposing Meats and Rabbits surrendered | — | 1 | — | 10 |
| 25i Boxes of Chocolates | — | — | 3 | 13 |
| Tomatoes and various Fruits | 1 | 11 | — | 20 |
| Total | 2 | 5 | — | 21 |
The total amount of unsound or diseased meat, fish, fruit, and other food
destroyed was 2 tons 5 cwt. 21 lbs. The diseases which affected animal food are
set out in detail on page
UNSOUND CHOCOLATES GIVEN AS PRIZES.
Just towards the close of the year under review—which ends on the 3rd
January, 1931—the department had a complaint from a lady who with her child
had attended one of the large season entertainments in a public hall in the Borough,
and the child had received a ticket for a prize in a so-called competition. Amongst
the prizes available, which were distributed from a certain stall indicated on the
ticket, were boxes of chocolates, and naturally the mother preferred the chocolates
to any other prize for her child. This large box of chocolates was taken home and
to the bitter disappointment of the child when it was opened the chocolates were
found to be mouldy and unfit for eating. An investigation was immediaely commenced
and an endeavour was made to purchase chocolates at the stall; but they