London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hendon 1963

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hendon]

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Selling tin of strawberries containing moth.The strawberries were produced and packed in Holland. The importers were advised and sent a director to Holland to investigate who reported that more vigilant control and supervision were to be exercised at the factory. As the importers and the retailer could not possibly have known of the presence of the moth in the tin the matter was dealt with by the issue of warning letters.
Selling puff pastry containing mould spotsAs the pastry was not brought to the Department until three days after purchase if was difficult to assess its condition at the time of sale. A warning letter was sent to the retailers.
Selling a sausage containing a large bristleLegal proceedings were taken against the manufacturers who were fined £10 and the Council awarded £5. 5. 0. costs.
Selling a half pound packet of butter containing a flying insectThe butter was produced and packed in Denmark. It would have been impossible to detect the presence of the insect as the butter was wrapped in aluminium foil and greaseproof paper. As proceedings against the Danish producers were impossible, a warning letter was sent to the importers.
Selling sliced and wrapped loaf containing hard dough.This was found to be due to cottonseed oil which would not have been harmful. The matter was accordingly dealt with by the issue of a warning letter to the manufacturers.
Selling frozen chicken fritters containing mould growthThe fritters were not seen by the Public Health Inspector until 23 hours after purchase and had been kept after sale in conditions favourable to the growth of mould. In the circumstances the matter was dealt with by the issue of a warning letter to the retailers.
Selling sausages as part of a meal the sausages being sour and fermentingThe sausages were said to have been served to three members of the staff of a Company at the Company's canteen. The Council decided to take legal proceedings against the Company under Section 8 of the Act but as none of the complainants would even come forward later to make a statement, no further action could be taken.
Selling a doughnut containing a piece of metalThe manufacturers denied that the metal was in the doughnut when sold and the possibility of the contaminant entering the doughnut after sale could not be discounted. The Town Clerk was not satisfied as to the evidence and no further action was taken.

CONDEMNED FOODS
A list of the foodstuffs condemned by the Public Health Inspectors during the year as unfit for
human consumption is given below.
It is rarely nowadays that an inspector finds unsound food displayed or intended for sale.
All of the food detailed below was condemned as a result of requests received from retailers to
inspect the food which had become unfit from such causes as breakdown of refrigerators at week-ends or
delay or damage in transit.
Condemned foods are destroyed by incineration at the Council's Refuse Disposal Works.
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