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 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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1937] 64
CERTIFICATION OF MEAT FOOD PRODUCTS FOR SHIPMENT
ABROAD.
The Medical Officer of Health, as Designated Officer for Food Certification,
issued one certificate in respect of foods prepared in Islington and exported to the
United States of America.
LICENSED STREET TRADERS IN THE BOROUGH OF ISLINGTON
FOR THE YEAR 1937.
Meat, etc., 16; Fish, Poultry, Rabbits, etc., 27; †Ice Cream, 24; Confectionery,
Minerals, etc., 27; Grocery, Provisions, etc., 17; Coffee Stalls, etc., 9; Fruit,
Vegetables, Greengrocery, etc., 181.
†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.
results. In each case the unsatisfactory conditions were remedied without having to resort to prosecution.
| Number Inspected. | Number found Unsatisfactory. | |
| Hotel and Restaurant Kitchens | 142 | 32 |
| Coffee and Dining Rooms | 331 | 70 |
| Refreshment Rooms | 290 | 64 |
| Provision (Cooked Meats, cooked but not consumed on premises) | 126 | 34 |
| Totals | 889 | 200 |
NOTIFICATION OF FOOD POISONING.
During the year 26 cases of food poisoning were notified, the alleged poisoning
foods being pressed pork, bacon, " Ham or similar meat," corned beef, fried fish,
fresh fish, kippers, ham rolls, crab, meat pie, and "Shepherd's Pie," containing
tinned peas, meat and potatoes.
On the 2nd June, six persons, all of one family, were reported from St. Mary
Islington, hospital, to be suffering from food poisoning, the suspected food being
pressed pork. Very careful and exhaustive enquiries were made at the shop where
it was alleged the pressed pork was purchased, but no evidence was obtained to
indicate that the food sold was responsible for the illness. It was ascertained that
potatoes and " soaked " peas also formed part of the meal, and samples of both
pork and peas were bacteriologically examined, with negative results, but it may
be noted that the bacillus ærtryche was found in the stools of the patients under
treatment at St. Mary, Islington, Hospital. These six notifications were followed
on the 5th June, 1937, by three relating to the members of another family in the
same district, who it was ascertained had partaken of pressed pork said to have
been purchased from the same shop as in the previous instance. No material for
examination could be obtained for cases 7, 8 and 9.
The tenth case was an adult who attended a wedding reception and although
the Bacillus Newport was isolated no evidence of the particular food which caused
the illness was produced. Likewise no particular material was obtained for
examination. As regards the primary examinations before mentioned, the pork