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
Wandsworth 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]
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53
Bacteriological examination of food
Eight hundred and fifty-six food samples were examined
bacteriologically at the Public Health Laboratory during the year
and details are given below : —
Milk 18
Ice-cream 64
Shell-fish 749
Fish 16
Eels 9
Total 856
Milk
The 12 samples of sterilised milk submitted to the turbidity test
were reported to be satisfactory and six samples of pasteurised milk
submitted to the methylene-blue and phosphatase test were reported
to be satisfactory.
Ice-cream
The 64 samples of ice-cream were examined at the Public Health
Laboratory by the methylene-blue test. The grading is determined
by the length of time taken to decolourize the methylene-blue,
grade 1 indicating the highest standard bacteriologically.
The following table gives a summary of the results:—
| Grade | Number of Samples |
|---|---|
| 1 | 33 |
| 2 | 11 |
| 3 | 6 |
| 4 | 14 |
| Total | 64 |
In every case where the sample was considered to be unsatisfactory,
the manufacturer was approached with a satisfactory outcome
as shown by subsequent sampling.
Shell-fish, fish and eels
The 774 samples of shell-fish, fish and eels were found to be
satisfactory.