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
Hayes and Harlington 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hayes]
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would be impracticable and that the only solution was to improve
personal hygiene. An interesting fact which arose from the
results of swabs from skin lesions was that while food handlers
were scrupulously careful in keeping cuts etc. covered they
tended to discontinue the use of dressings when the lesion was
practically healed, but in several cases coagulase-positive
staphylococci of a type associated with food poisoning were
isolated from such lesions.
"Some of the most recent results obtained are given below. They show that food can be produced with a low bacterial count and it is hoped that these standards will be maintained.
| Foodstuff | Surface plate Count per gram at 37°C | Direct Cultures | Enrichment Cultures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooked chicken | less than 500 | No bacterial growth | Coagulase-positive staphylococci not found | |
| Cooked veal | 500 | Very scanty growth of aerobic sporing bacilli | Coagulase-positive staphylococci not found | |
| Cooked steak | less than 500 | No bacterial growth | Coagulase-positive staphylococci not found | |
Hawkers of Food.
The registration of hawkers of certain classes of food has
been compulsory in this district since 1939 and, since the
Middlesex County Council Act, 1950, came into force, has extended
to all classes of foodstuffs. The vehicles and storage premises
used by these traders are regularly inspected by the Public
Health Inspectors and have to comply with the Food Hygiene
Regulations.
Mobile shops from which groceries, meat, fish, ice crean,
refreshments, etc. are sold, are all fitted with wash basins
and carry supplies of hot water, soap, towels and nailbrushes.
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