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
Beckenham 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Beckenham]
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In addition to the sampling of milk for chemical analysis, samples
are also taken and submitted to the Public Health Laboratory Service
for examination for keeping quality, and, in the case of pasteurised
milk, for the adequancy of heat treatment. In 1961, 86 samples were
submitted. One failed the keeping quality test, but an immediate
repeat sample from the dairy concerned proved satisfactory. The
remainder passed the tests to which they were submitted.
Food privately purchased, and alleged by the purchaser to be unsound
Instances of alleged unsound or contaminated food sold to the public which came to our notice were investigated, and reported to the Public Health Committee. Details are appended:—
| Alleged Complaint | Result | |
|---|---|---|
| February, 1961. | Metal in Bread. | Baker fined £20 and £10 10s. Od. costs. |
| Sacking fibres in Meat Pasty. | Manufacturer fined £15 and £8 costs. | |
| March, 1961. | Mouldy Bread. | Baker fined £15 and £7 15s. costs. |
| Bread contaminated with iron and oil. | Baker fined £15 and £7 15s. costs. | |
| Dirty milk bottle. | Dairyman fined £20 and £7 15s. costs. | |
| April, 1961. | Mould in Cornish Pasty. | Retailer fined £10 and £5 5s. costs. |
| Mould in Chicken and Ham Croquette. | Retailer fined £3 and £10 10s. costs. | |
| Cigarette in Currant Bun. | No legal action possible owing to conflicting evidence. | |
| June, 1961. | Loaf contaminated with Oil. | Warning letter to Baker. |
| September, 1961. | Piece of metal in bottle of milk. | Dairyman fined £20 and £10 10s. costs. |
| October. 1961. | Wasp in soft Bread Roll. Jar of Pickles containing Glass. | Warning letter to Baker. Evidence did not warrant any action. |
Ice Cream
Seventeen samples of Ice Cream were submitted to chemical
analysis during 1961 and all were found to comply with the statutory
standard for this product.
Sixteen samples were submitted to bacteriological examination,
as a result of which the samples are graded into four degrees of bacterial
cleanliness. The results were as follows:—
Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4
14 2 — —
Only samples falling into Grades 3 and 4 are regarded as unsatisfactory,
indicating some bacterial contamination either in the
manufacture or the retail serving of the product.
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