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 1968

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

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Table: Table showing the amount of meat, poultry and other foods surrendered to, or seized by, meat Inspectors in the City of London. 1968.

Table showing the amount of meat, poultry and other foods surrendered to, or seized by, meat Inspectors in the City of London. 1968.

Smithfield MarketLeadenhall Market and City ShopsCold StoresTOTAL
TCQLTCQLTCQLTCQL
Meat (Diseased)3519119216117360124
Meat (Unsound)3071432611412431830914018
Offal66150062151725689020
Poultry and Feathered Game550210314095814219
Rabbits and Hares200220922011
Tinned Meat21631331163011
Other Tinned Goods11231311112324
Frozen Fish1163811638
Other Frozen Foods1302413024
Cheese20162016
Salami226226
19684741131961022115118482823
196758123731912611121158613316
19681967
TonsTons
Meat, Poultry and other Foods318,257343,619
Delivered at Smithfield Market.

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FOOD HYGIENE (GENERAL) REGULATIONS 1960 AND 1962
FOOD HYGIENE (MARkET STALLS & DELIVERY VEHICLES) REGULATIONS, 1966
There are 357 stalls on Central Markets occupied by 110 firms. All food businesses have
now been fitted with sinks and with hot and cold water for washing utensils as required by Part IV,
Section 18B of the Food Hygiene (Market Stalls & Delivery Vehicles) Regulations, 1966. The
general cleanliness of the stalls has been maintained and where faults have been found they have
been remedied.
Carrier companies' and private butchers' vehicles have also kept a good standard of cleanliness.
There has been a large increase in the number of foreign cafe and restaurant owners buying
supplies from the market and a correspondingly large number of infringements necessitating a
considerable amount of work and time spent on each individual case. This has been due to the
difficulty of explaining the Regulations to owners of cafes and restaurants and vehicle drivers
who speak very little English, and who appear not to appreciate the necessity of clean handling
and transporting of supplies between the market and their premises. In a large number of cases
the vehicles were entirely unsuitable for carrying food, they were dirty and there was a grave risk
of contamination. The personnel themselves were not equipped with protective clothing. In such
cases the meat has been transferred to market transport. The local authority, in whose area the
premises are located, has been notified by telephone of the condition of the vehicle and the
infringement of the Regulation and its co-operation sought in remedying the defects. This is
proving very effective.
The cleanliness and maintenance of protective clothing at Smithfield Market still remains a
difficulty and constant supervision is kept to ensure that clothing is kept clean and changes are
made when necessary. Laundry facilities are still very limited.

Table: During the year 695 infringements were noted and suitable warnings were given including 367 in writing as listed below: —

During the year 695 infringements were noted and suitable warnings were given including 367 in writing as listed below: —

InfringementsWarnings Despatched
70 in connection with clothing50
25 in connection with containers17
56 in connection with head coverings52
91 in connection with meat contamination59
232 in connection with premises and equipment38
97 in connection with incidents of smoking77
19 regarding trucks3
105 regarding vans and cars71

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There are estimated to be some 7,000 persons using Smithfield Market daily, which figure
includes:—
approximately 600 porters licensed by the Superintendent of the Market, including some 120
freelance porters popularly known as "bummarees".
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