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
Haringey 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Haringey]
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Food Complaints
142 complaints of unsound foodstuffs were investigated and, where appropriate, legal proceedings were instituted or warning letters sent. Details are shown in the following table:—
| Commodity | Foreign bodies | Other reasons | Warning letter | Prosecution | No formal action | Cases referred elsewhere |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby food | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | _ |
| Beer | 2 | – | 2 | – | — | — |
| Bacon | – | 1 | — | – | 1 | — |
| Bread | 15 | 11 | 15 | 6 | 5 | — |
| Butter | – | 1 | — | — | 1 | — |
| Cereal | 1 | – | — | — | 1 | — |
| Cheese | – | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — |
| Confectionery (flour) | 10 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 3 | — |
| Confectionery (sugar) | 9 | – | 6 | 3 | – | – |
| Cream | – | 2 | 1 | – | 1 | – |
| Dates | 1 | – | 1 | — | — | — |
| Fruit (fresh) | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — |
| Fruit (tinned) | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | — |
| Fish | 2 | 3 | 3 | – | 1 | 1 |
| Lettuce | – | 1 | 1 | – | — | — |
| Jam | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | — |
| Cooked meats | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | – |
| Meat | – | 2 | 2 | – | – | – |
| Meat pies | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 | – |
| Meat (tinned) | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | – | – |
| Milk | 11 | 13 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Peanuts | 1 | – | – | 1 | — | — |
| Prepared foods | 6 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 3 | – |
| Tinned soup | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | – |
| Starch products | 5 | – | 1 | 1 | 3 | – |
| Toothpaste | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – |
| Vegetables (tinned) | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | – | – |
| Yoghurt | – | 1 | – | 1 | – | — |
| TOTAL | 70 | 72 | 74 | 31 | 33 | 4 |
A number of these articles were submitted to the Public Analyst and his reports assisted when assessing what
action should be taken in respect of offences.
Prosecutions were instituted in thirty-one cases where it was judged that the circumstances warranted such
action and the results are shown in the following table: —
Fine of
Costs
£
£
Foreign matter in bread
50
5
Mouldy pie
15
5
Loose peanuts containing mice excreta
350
25
Piece of string in hot cross bun
20
10
Bottle of milk with foreign matter
25
5
Cracker barrel cheese — mouldy
20
5
Foreign body (mouse dropping) in roll
15
10
Shoulder ham — strong odour
20
5
Yoghurt — out of date
50
15
Cigarette end in bottle of milk
30
10
31