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3. Lead is another known contaminant of tea but none of
our samples has shown this to be present in excess.
Of the 939 samples taken by the Inspector during the
year, 175 were of doubtful quality after the initial
tests were carried out and were referred for further
examination to the Public Analyst. He reported that 95
samples were from consignments of tea considered to be
unfit for human consumption mainly because of the presence
of excess quantities of magnetic metallic dust.
Tea that has been certified as unfit is re-exported
under guarantee, usually to Holland, for industrial purposes.
The Medical Officers of Health for the Port of
London and the Port of Rotterdam are notified to enable
them to check this procedure.
Many of these teas could be blended with large quantities
of other good tea and the analyst would regard the
resultant product as satisfactory.
A fairly large amount of the time of an Inspector has
been taken up by this work but I feel that as we have now
become responsible for this testing it must be carried
out in the thorough way in which other foodstuffs are
controlled.
Other Food Samples.
Six other food samples were submitted for testing
after receiving complaints and all proved to be satisfactory.
These included cooked meats, confectionery and
cabbage water.
MIDDLESEX COUNTY COUNCIL ACT, 1950, SECTION 11
Under this Section, 1 person was registered during
the year for the sale of food from carts, barrows, other
vehicles etc. There were 38 persons on the Register at
31st December, 1960.
HOUSING STATISTICS
1. Inspection of dwelling-houses during the year:
(1) Total number of dwelling-houses inspected
for housing defects (under Public Health or
Housing Acts)
2, 244
(2) Number ot dwellmg-houses (included under
sub-head (1) above) which were inspected
and recorded under the Housing Act, 1957
2
(3) Number of dwelling-houses found to be in a
state so dangerous or injurious to health
as to be unfit for human habitation
1
(4) Number of dwelling-houses (exclusive of
those referred to under the preceding subhead)
found not to be in all respects reasonably
fit for human habitation
1,251