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
Ealing 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ealing]
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BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF OTHER FOODS
During the year, 172 samples of foods of varying types were submitted to the
pathological laboratory for bacteriological examination. The foods concerned
included 82 samples of sea foods of the frozen imported variety, taken from consignments
received in the Borough from overseas. Sampling was carried out as a routine
on receipt of advice from the port health authority that consignments had been
released without inspection at the port. Sampling of canned meats included 43 cans
of meat packed and processed at food canneries in the district. Consumer complaints
concerning suspected articles of food, and specimens obtained in the investigation of
suspected cases of food poisoning and other infections accounted for 27 of the
remaining samples. In these latter categories no harmful organisms were found on
examination. A summary of results of sampling is given in the following table:—
A summary of result of sampling is given in the following table:-
| Food | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | Total samples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea foods | 77 | 5 | 82 |
| Fish | 3 | — | 3 |
| Canned meats | 43 | — | 43 |
| Raw meat | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Milk powder | 3 | — | 3 |
| Other foods (including meal speci | |||
| mens) | 27 | — | 27 |
| Milk bottles | 9 | — | 9 |
| Totals | 165 | 7 | 172 |
REGISTRATION OF HAWKERS OF FOOD AND THEIR PREMISES
Section 11 of the Middlesex County Council Act, 1950, which had been brought
into operation by the former Ealing and Southall Borough Councils, was extended
to apply to the whole of the London Borough as from 1st January, 1966.
The Section requires that no person other than a person keeping open shop for the
sale of food shall sell or offer or expose food for sale on any cart, barrow, or other
vehicle, or any basket, pail, tray or other receptacle unless he is registered with the
local authority of the district in which the food is sold, or offered, or exposed for sale.
Premises used in connection with the storage of any food to be sold in this manner
must also be registered.
A total of 32 such registrations where persons were still in business were effective
at the end of 1965, four new traders having been added during the year.
PREMISES REGISTERED FOR PREPARATION OF SAUSAGES AND PRESERVED
FOODS
Section 16 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, provides that no premises shall be
used for the preparation or manufacture of sausages or potted, pressed, pickled or
preserved food intended for sale unless registered for the purpose by the local
authority.
At the end of the year, there were 180 premises on the Council's register where
the various preparation processes were being carried on, three new premises having
been added during the year.
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