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 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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51
and cleanly conditions and practices in connection with the handling, wrapping and
delivery of food sold or intended for sale for human consumption, and in connection
with the sale or exposure for sale in the open air of food intended for human
consumption. The By-laws, which replace previous ones, cover many of the aspects
of food handling at different stages from its manufacture or preparation to the
delivery of the finished product. Consequent upon an administrative arrangement
being agreed between the City Corporation and this Council, the exemption of the
application of the By-laws to the Metropolitan Cattle Market which existed under
previous By-law was discontinued.
By virtue of the Public Health (Meat) (Amendment) Regulations, 1952, which
came into operation on 31st August, the definition of "animal" in the principal
Regulations (Part II—governing slaughterhouses and slaughtering) was amended
to include horses. It is, therefore, now necessary for slaughterers of horses to give
prior notice of slaughter for human consumption to the Local Authority in order
that the carcasses may be examined.
Publicity in regard to food hygiene formed an important part of the educational
work of the Department during the year.
Difficulty continues to be experienced where new shops are erected and occupied
for the manufacture, storage or sale of food for human consumption. In many cases
the requirements of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, and the relevant By-laws, have
not received the necessary attention by the Architect who in fact may have been
unaware of the use to which the shops would be put. Upon completion and occupation, it is found necessary for structural alterations to be carried out in order to
comply with the statutory requirements. Such work could have been obviated had
the Public Health Department been consulted earlier, and neither the occupier or
the owner is particularly keen to carry out additional work after considerable expense
has been incurred both in respect of the erection and the adapting of the interiors
of the shops concerned.
Food and Drugs Act, 1938.
Prosecutions.
Details of the action taken by the Council under the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, are as follows:—
| Date of Hearing | Offence | Result of Proceedings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12.3.52 | Selling food namely Jam Roll which was not of the quality demanded contrary to Sec. 3 of the above Act—111 Holloway Road. | Fined £5. costs | Defendant to pay £2 2 |
| 19.3.52 | Selling food, namely Bread, which was not of the quality demanded contrary to Sec. 3 of the above Art:— | ||
| 101 Copenhagen Street | Fined£5. costs | Defendant to pay £2 2s. | |
| 19.3.52 | 81 Hazellville Road | Fined 40s. | Defendant to pay £1 ls. |
| 19.3.52 | Failing to keep clean the floor of a room contrary to Sec. 13 (1) (G) of the above Act at:— | ||
| 4 Danbury Street | Fined £5. costs | Defendant to pay £2 2s. | |