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 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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1935] 73
Under the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1932, Part 2
Section 5, a Register of Premises used for the Manufacture or Preparation of
Preserved Food is kept. This register practically takes in all butchers with few
exceptions, as a limited quantity of preservative in the form of Sulphur is allowed in
sausages. For this purpose and for the boiling and smoking of hams, the premises
come under the Act referred to. Although the main business in the register is that
of butcher, others preparing or making articles of preserved food have also to
register; thus grocers, provision and other shops are registered as well. (See Preserved
Food and Ice Cream, p. 73).
CERTIFICATION OF MEAT FOOD PRODUCTS FOR SHIPMENT
ABROAD.
The Medical Officer of Health, as Designated Officer for Food Certification,
issued 10 certificates in respect of foods prepared in Islington and exported to
foreign countries or to the Dominions.
LICENSED STREET TRADERS IN THE BOROUGH OF ISLINGTON
FOR THE YEAR 1935.
Meat, etc., 33; Fish, Poultry, Rabbits, 42; flee Cream, 59; Confectionery,
Minerals, etc., 16; Grocery, Provisions, etc., 67; Coffee Stalls, etc., 9; Fruit,
Vegetables, Greengrocery, etc., 276.
† Some also sell confectionery and minerals.
Restaurant Kitchens.—The work of inspecting restaurant kitchens is
tabulated under Workshops, and is done by the two women inspectors.
The following is a tabulated statement of the premises examined, and the results. In each case the unsatisfactory conditions were remedied without having to resort to prosecution.
| Number Inspected. | Number found Unsatisfactory. | |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel and Restaurant Kitchens | 111 | 28 |
| Coffee and Dining Rooms | 285 | 66 |
| Refreshment Rooms | 234 | 62 |
| Provision (Cooked Meats, cooked but not consumed on premises) | 144 | 38 |
| 774 | 189 |
NOTIFICATION OF FOOD POISONING.
During the year 13 cases of food poisoning were notified, the alleged poisoning
foods being Pilchards in tomato sauce 5, Pressed Pork 1, Tinned Salmon 2, Haddock
1, Veal and Ham Pie 3, Sausages 1.
Particular note might be taken of the cases of poisoning from veal and ham
pie. These cases did not at first come to the knowledge of the Medical Officer of
Health by direct notification, although they were notified subsequently after he had
investigated. A firm in the Borough asked for a veal and ham pie to be examined,
as a customer living in Highgate had complained of illness after partaking of it.
We received a portion of this veal and ham pie from the firm, and at this time the
Medical Officer of Health was asked by a medical practitioner to see a patient with
a rash w hich it was thought might possibly be Scarlet Fever. As the case appeared