London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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City of London 1927

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]

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Six samples of colourings and seasonings for sausages were also procured. One informal
sample of seasoning was certified to contain Boric Acid, but a formal sample of the same article
was certified free of this preservative, the old stock having been withdrawn from sale.
One sample of Margarine, at the beginning of the year, was found to contain Boric
Acid, and on resampling a few weeks later, it was found that the old stock had been disposed
of. Similarly, with regard to tinned peas certified to contain crystallised sulphate of copper,
the Vendor was cautioned and allowed time to dispose of the small balance of his stock.
SUPERVISED AND REGISTERED PREMISES.
Wholesale Dealers in Margarine and Margarine Cheese.—One new application for
registration was received during the year.
THE MILK AND DAIRIES ORDER, 1926, AND
THE MILK AND DAIRIES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1922.
Ten new applications for registration as retail purveyors of milk were received during
the year, eight of which were approved. Two applicants were refused registration, as the
conditions obtaining at the premises were unsatisfactory. In accordance with the procedure
laid down by the Milk and Dairies (Amendment) Act, 1922, one of these persons appeared
before the Sanitary Committee, but no appeal was made by the applicant from their decision
to refuse to register him.

Registration Statistics.

Number of Retail Purveyors of Milk on the Register at end of 1926334
New Applications for Registration received10
Applications granted8
Applications refused2
Names of Retailers removed from the Register71
Number of Retail Purveyors of Milk on the Register at the end of 1927271
Number of Milksellers (other than Retail Purveyors of Milk) on the Register at the enNil
Licenses issued under the Milk (Special Designations) Order, 1923Nil

Inspection of Premises where Milk is Retailed.—During the year, 284 inspections were
made in connection with the supervision of the sale of milk. In the course of such inspections
it was occasionally necessary to make suggestions for improvement in methods of storage,
cleansing of vessels, etc., and these suggestions were readily complied with. Considerable
improvements were made by one retail milk distributor by the installation of a cleansing
plant comprising a boiler, wash-up tank, churn block and steam sterilizing cabinet.
A copy of the Milk and Dairies Order, 1926, was supplied to each person newly registered
during the year.
In addition to the inspection of premises where milk is retailed, observation has been
kept on the barrows whereby milk is purveyed in the streets, to ensure that the requirements
of the Order were complied with. Legal proceedings were instituted on two occasions
against the same person for permitting bottles to be filled with milk elsewhere than on registered
premises. On the first occasion the case was dismissed under the Probation of Offenders
Act on payment of two guineas costs; and on the second, the defendant was fined £2 and
one guinea costs. Observation has also been made at railway stations with regard to the
condition of churns being returned empty to the senders. Generally speaking, they have
been found to have been cleansed before dispatch, but in one case, which was the subject
of complaint from a Rural District, it was found that churns were being returned in a dirty
condition. The firm concerned had no premises within the City area, but the Local Authority
in whose district the business was situated was communicated with and the cause of the
•complaint removed.
EXAMINATION OF MILK.
Chemical.—Fifteen samples, all of which were procured formally, were certified as
adulterated, giving a percentage of milk adulteration of 6.3, as compared with 4.4 for 1926.
There were eight prosecutions and penalties were imposed in each instance. In the
seven cases in which proceedings were not deemed advisable, the vendors were cautioned-
e 2