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
Dagenham 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Dagenham]
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The normal method of disposing of unsound food is to use the incinerator at the
Council's refuse disposal works. Occasionally, when there is a quantity of meat, it is
disposed of under supervision through the Council's waste food service; the meat is
previously cut up and dyed.
Registration of Food Hawkers
Under the provisions of the Essex County Council Act, 1952, Section 103, six
persons were registered as food hawkers; one had storage permises in the Borough.
Food Poisoning
12 cases of food poisoning were notified during the year. The following is a copy
of the annual return submitted to the Ministry of Health:—
1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter Total
7 2 2 1 12
Cases otherwise ascertained—Nil Fatal cases—Nil
Particulars of Outbreaks:—
| No. of Outbreaks | No. of Cases | Total No. of cases | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Outbreaks | Other Outbreaks | Notified | Otherwise Ascertained | ||
| Agent identified | - | - | - | - | |
| Agent not identified | 2 | - | 7 | - | 7 |
Single Cases:—
| No. of Cases | Total No. of cases | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Notified | Otherwise Ascertained | ||
| * Agent identified | 3 | — | 3 |
| Agent not identified | 2 | — | 2 |
* Salmonella (Typhi-murium 1. Heidelberg 1. Enteritidis 1.)
Salmonella Infections, not food-borne—Nil.
Food and Drugs—Sampling
| Article | Number Examined | Number Adulterated, etc. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formal | Informal | Formal | Informal | |
| Angelica | — | 1 | — | — |
| Almonds | — | 1 | — | — |
| Baking Powder | — | 2 | — | — |
| Batter Mix | — | 1 | — | — |
| Beans and Pork Sausages | — | 1 | — | — |
| Beverages | — | 1 | — | — |
| Blancmange Powders | — | 3 | — | — |
| Bread | — | 3 | — | 3 |
| Butter | — | 3 | — | — |
| Cakes | — | 2 | — | 1 |
| Cake Mixtures | — | 6 | — | — |
| Cheese | — | 1 | — | — |
| Coconut, Desiccated | — | 1 | — | — |