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
Barnet 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barnet]
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Food Complaints
Two hundred and fifty-six complaints were received as to quality, soundness or the
presence of foreign bodies in food. This was the same total of complaints as was received
in 1970. In 169 cases the matter was dealt with by the Department by the giving of advice
or caution to the shopkeeper or company concerned. In 31 cases the offence justified
proceedings and in a further 23 cases the Council authorised the sending of a '' warning
letter". In 33 instances, approximately 13 per cent of the total complaints, it was
considered that the complaint was unfounded.
The table below classifies the nature of the complaint:-
| 1. | |||
| (a) Insects, rodents etc. | 36 | 87 | |
| (b) Metal objects | 8 | ||
| (c) Glasses, stones, etc. | 9 | ||
| (d) Paper, wood, string, etc. | 6 | ||
| (e) Oil, grease etc. | 6 | ||
| (f) Fabric, plastic, rubber etc. | 10 | ||
| (g) Cigarette ends | 1 | ||
| (h) Harmless matter, e.g. burnt dough in bread | 11 | ||
| 2. | |||
| (a) Unsoundness | 31 | ||
| (b) Mould growth | 56 | ||
| (c) Rancidity, sourness etc. | 6 | ||
| (d) Adulteration | 3 | 96 | |
| (a) Damaged containers | 7 | ||
| (b) Dirty containers, e.g. milk bottles | 21 | 28 | |
| 12 | 12 | ||
| 5. | 33 | 33 | |
| 256 | |||
No apology is made for once again pointing out the problems created for the diary
industry by the misuse of milk bottles. During the power cuts milk bottles used as improvised
candle holders were found to have the candle end pushed into them from whence
it could only be removed by the smashing of the bottle. In spite of appeals to the public,
firework time brings its annual quota of contaminated bottles, due to their having been
used as rocket launching pads, whilst a proportion of the gimmicky plastic toys given with
some packeted foods eventually find a home in the milk bottle. Opposition to the plastic
36