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
Barking 1943
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]
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47
SECTION E.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD.
(1) MILK SUPPLY.
There are no cowkeepers in the district and we
have only one dairy where milk is handled or treated.
The remaining 48 premises on the register retail
pre-packed supplies. In addition there are nine milk
purveyors who occupy premises in other districts,
but retail in Barking.
The following table sets out the results of the bacteriological examination of various samples.
| Type of Sample | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| " Sterilised " Milk | |||
| " Pasteurised " Milk | 39 | 2 | 41 |
| Raw Milk | 10 | 19 | 29 |
| " Homogenised " Milk | 7 | 7 | |
| Tuberculin Tested Milk | 18 | 3 | 21 |
| Totals | 74 | 24 | 98 |
In the table above it will be noted that 19 samples
of raw milk were found to be unsatisfactory. This
term " unsatisfactory," however, must be qualified.
With the advent of the Milk Advisory officers employed
by the Essex War Agricultural Committee and
the use of the Reazurin Test, a change in the classification
took place. The standard conditions in Barking
had been set originally by use of the Methylene Blue
Test of keeping quality and it was this test which