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

East Barnet 1958

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Barnet]

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The majority of shops in the district selling cooked meats now have
glass counter screens protecting this particular foodstuff from indiscriminate
coughs or sneezes of the customer. The majority of shopkeepers
in the district now appear to have lost the prejudice they appeared to
have had of placing their wares behind glass.
MILK SUPPLY

Table: I he lollowing licences were granted to dealers to sell under the Milk (Special Designations) Regulations 1956-1959.

I he lollowing licences were granted to dealers to sell under the Milk (Special Designations) Regulations 1956-1959.

Tuberculin Tested7
Pasteurised11
Sterilised14

Table: The following supplementary licences under Principal licences granted by other authorities to sell milk from premises outside this area were also granted.

The following supplementary licences under Principal licences granted by other authorities to sell milk from premises outside this area were also granted.

Tuberculin Tested10
Pasteurised10
Sterilised10

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96 Samples of milk were purchases and submitted for bacteriological
examination to the Ministry of Health Public Health Laboratory at
Coppetts Wood.
There was only one unsatisfactory sample of milk. This sample was
obtained from a producer-retailer and investigation showed that the
sample obtained was of the previous evening's milking which had not been
placed in the refrigerator. The particularly warm night on this occasion
no doubt was the reason why the sample failed the methylene blue test.
ICE CREAM
Four applications were received from the registration of premises
for the sale of ice cream. The premises and equipment being satisfactory
the applications were granted.

Table: 100 Samples of ice cream were obtained and submitted for bacteriological examination with the following results:

100 Samples of ice cream were obtained and submitted for bacteriological examination with the following results:

Provisional grade 187
,, ,,25
,, ,, 32
,, ,,46

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The eight unsatisfactory samples (Grades 3 and 4) were all loose ice
cream. It has been proved time and time again that the cause of these
unsatisfactory samples is the use of servers which have not been properly
sterilised, yet it is very difficult to impress on the vendors of loose ice
cream the importance of this aspect of their business.
There are no premises manufacturing ice cream for sale in the district.
All ice cream sold is obtained from large wholesale firms.
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