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
City of London 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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50
UNSOUND FOOD SURRENDERED AT RIVERSIDE WHARVES.
As a result of the daily inspection of City wharves, 39J loads of unsound food were
removed from these places during the year by the Cleansing Department.
The material so disposed of comprised :—
| Tons. | Cwts. | Qrs. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Condensed Milk | 4 | 10 | 2 |
| Dried Fruit | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Fresh Fruit | 5 | 0 | |
| Fruit Pulp | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Nuts (various) | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Tinned Fruit, Vegetables and Fish | 16 | 18 | 3 |
| Vegetables | 11 | 3 | 1 |
| Miscellaneous | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 45 | 8 | 3 |
The following were placed under embargo and subsequently removed for destruction by private contractors under adequate supervision :—
| Tons. | Cwts. | Qrs. | Lbs. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
| Condensed Milk | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| Dried Fruit | l | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| Fruit Pulp and Fruit Juice | l | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Tinned Fruit and Vegetables | 1 | 4 | 2 | |
| Tinned Meat and Casings | 8 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Vegetables | 188 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Miscellaneous | 13 | 1 | 11 | |
| Total | 200 | 6 | 0 | 8 |
PUBLIC HEALTH (CLEANSING OF SHELLFISH) ACT, 1932.
The above-mentioned Act enables the Corporation to provide apparatus for shellfish
cleansing or to make contributions to another local authority undertaking such cleansing.
Prolonged practical experiment has demonstrated that cleansing of shellfish can be carried
out successfully, but it is obvious that such cleansing could be most effectively applied directly
the fish were taken from their beds rather than after transport to such markets as Billingsgate.
It is, of course, appreciated that some foreign shellfish are received in the City for distribution,
but in all the circumstances the Sanitary Committee decided to take no action in
the matter at the present time.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE (GRADING AND MARKING) ACT, 1928.
MERCHANDISE MARKS ACT, 1926.
Administration of the above-mentioned Acts has been attended with very little difficulty
other than the persuasion of the affected parties to conform to the requirements. Casual
street vendors, as a general rule, appear to have little knowledge of the requirements of the
law on this matter, but those regularly engaged in this kind of work, having once been
acquainted by the Inspector of their obligations, very readily remedy any omission. When
neglect is found in shops and stores, it is almost invariably due to assistants having failed
to carry out the instructions of the proprietors.
It is satisfactory to report that there is a marked improvement in the packing and
grading of produce coming within the scope of the Agricultural Produce (Grading and
Marking) Act.
During the year, 2,263 shops and stores and 688 street vendors have been visited, and
12 minor offences in the former and 14 in the latter thus found were remedied without
delay.
Seven new orders were issued, each of which received the attention of the Inspector
appointed for the purpose.
FERTILISERS AND FEEDING STUFFS ACT, 1926.
During the year, 150 visits have been made in connection with the above-mentioned Act,
and 24 special enquiries instituted in connection with reports by other authorities of neglect
to comply with the requirements. Such offences as have been discovered have nearly always
been due to ignorance of the somewhat intricate clauses, and the assistance which my officer
has been able to give in explaining the points of difficulty which are experienced has been
much appreciated, and has resulted in prompt rectification and abatement of offences.
The quarterly returns required by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries have been
made.