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
Poplar 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Poplar, Metropolitan Borough]
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Unsound food.
The Council's Pood Inspector is called upon to pass judgment of fitness on
great quantities of food. Frequently large and valuable stocks are involved.
Among special lots of food examined during the year were the following:
| 66 and 54 bags of whole coconuts | (13,440 lbs.) | All condemned and destroyed. |
| 253 bags imported onions | (28,336 lbs.) | „ „ „ „ |
| 24 forequarters Danish beef | (3,290 lbs.) | 12 quarters condemned and released for industrial use. |
| 916 boxes chocolate novelties . | (916 lbs.) | All condemned and destroyed. |
| 1139 tins greengages | (2,278 lbs.) | „ „ „ „ |
| Compound cooking fat | (33,096 lbs.) | All condemned, released for industrial use. |
| 1151 cartons each 24 tins Dutch marinated | ||
| mussels | (27,624 lbs.) | All condemned and destroyed. |
| 39 cases each 48 tins processed Peas | (1,872 lbs.) | „ „ „ „ |
| 204 tins apricot pulp | (2,040 lbs.) | „ „ „ „ |
| 250 cases dessicated coconut | (32,500 lbs.) | Detained under Public Health (Imported Food) Regulations and released after processing. |
| 30 boxes pears | (1,200 lbs.) | All condemned and destroyed. |
The following is a summary of foods condemned as being unfit for human consumption: -
| Fresh foods | Canned foods | |
| Meat and offal | 5,312 lbs. | 5,114 lbs. |
| Meat products | 142 lbs. | 1,097 lbs. |
| Ham | 15 lbs. | 2,158 lbs. |
| Confectionery | 1,056 lbs. | |
| Nuts and kernels | 45,950 lbs. | -- |
| Cheese | -- | 398 lbs. |
| Fish | 42 lbs. | 27,641 lbs. |
| Milk | -- | 690 lbs. |
| Chutney and pickles | 478 lbs. | |
| Fruit juice | 570 lbs. | 1,871 lbs. |
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