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 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hayes]
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Hawkers of Food
The registration of hawkers of all classes of foodstuffs
is compulsory under the Middlesex County Council Act, 1950.
The vehicles and storage premises used by these traders are
regularly inspected by the Public Health Inspectors and have to
comply with the Pood hygiene Regulations.
Mobile shops from which groceries, meat, fish, ice cream,
refreshments or any other open food are sold, are all fitted
with wash basins and carry supplies of hot water, soap, towels,
and nailbrushes.
Number of Hawkers registered 72
Number of hawkers' storage premises registered 11
The difference between these figures is accounted for by
(a) the fact that it is common for these traders to buy their
produce from day to day, and (b) many hawkers having storage
premises in other districts.
Sampling of Food and Drugs.
(a) The routine sampling of miscellaneous foods was continued during the year. The following samples were examined:-
| Frozen Complete teal | 1 |
| Cream Cakes etc | 12 |
| Imitation Cream | 14 |
| Pish Cakes | 2 |
| Cooked Tinned Meats | 113 |
| Trifle | 1 |
| Frozen Whole Egg | 1 |
| 114 |
Although there are no bacteriological standards for these
foods, the reports received, apart from giving an assurance of
the absence of pathogenic organisms, are a useful guide as to
the standard of handling practised in the food trade.
The bacteriological examination of samples of ice cream,
water and some of the miscellaneous foods is carried out at the
Public Health Laboratory, Ealing, and I am indebted to the
Director and Staff of the Laboratory for their ready assistance
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