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A Dealer's Licence permits the sale of milk both outside as well as inside the area of the licensing
authority. The numbers of such licences current in the City at the end of 1970 were:—
Untreated 74 (74)
Ultra Heat Treated 110 (108)
Pasteurised 352 (350)
Sterilised 249 (248)
Milk Supplies—Brucella Abortus
Brucella abortus is the organism associated with contagious abortion in cattle and its transmission
to man occurs through drinking raw milk. As almost the entire supply of milk sold and consumed in
Westminster is heat-treated, notests to determine the presence of this organism were carried out during
the year.
Food and Drugs Act, 1955—Section 16
Under this Act no premises shall be used for:—
(a) the sale, or the manufacture for the purpose of sale, of ice cream, or storage of ice cream
intended for sale, or
(b) the preparation or manufacture of sausages, or potted, pressed, pickled or preserved food
intended for sale, unless they are registered for that purpose by the local authority. Premises
used wholly or mainly as catering premises, or as a school or club are exempt from these
requirements and those used as a theatre, cinematographic theatre, music hall or concert hall
are exempt for registration in respect of the sale and storage of ice cream.
The number of premises registered with the City Council at 31st December 1970, is shewn in
Table 23, page 74.
Food Poisoning
During the year information was received of 258 persons stated to be suffering from food poisoning,
and a summary of some of the individual outbreaks affecting more than one person is as follows:—
Following the consumption of smoked trout, four persons were ill; one was admitted to hospital
for an overnight stay. Bacteriological examination of the trout disclosed the presence of staph,
aureus. The source of the infection was not determined.
A game pie delivered to retail premises in Westminster from the country, was later consumed with
cold salad at a house party, by a party of five. All were ill. CI. welchii was isolated from a portion of the
pie. Enquiries were made by the local Medical Officer of Health for the area where the pie was made
and cooked, and advice given regarding temperature control.
Twenty-two persons were ill following a party at which the only common food consumed was
prawn cocktail. Twelve received hospital treatment. None of the prawns remained but the caterer's
bacteriologist carried out an examination of a specimen the Company had retained and this showed a
heavy count of a staphylococcal organism. It appeared that there had been failure to carry out explicit
Company instructions in relation to the storage of the prawns, and steps were taken to ensure there
was no repetition.
Human failure on the part of staff at licensed premises resulted in seven persons being ill following
consumption of beef and chicken sandwiches. CI. welchii was found to be the causative organism.
The meat and poultry used in the sandwich preparation had been left to cool in a kitchen temperature
for 16 hours before being placed in the refrigerator. Appropriate advice was given.
Following a birthday celebration, 10 persons were ill. One was subsequently found to be excreting
the Sal. Typhimurium organism—phage type 1 a. No food remained from the meal and no conclusion
could be reached.
Two outbreaks of CI. welchii occurred amongst patrons of the Meals on Wheels service operated
in Westminster. Following an investigation certain practices in relation to the pre-cooking of foods
were revised, and provision of additional facilities and accommodation reviewed.