London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hornchurch 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hornchurch]
This page requires JavaScript
36
Food Premises.
The number of food premises in the district may be classified as
follows (where more than one trade is carried on at any premises then
an entry is made in respect of each trade). The varying types remain
remarkably constant as the figures (last year in brackets) show:-
Bakehouses 17(14)
Butchers 76(77)
Cafes 53(53)
Confectioners,(bread, cakes etc.) 41(40)
Confectioners,(sweets, etc.) 126(126)
Fish Shops 27(27)
Grocers 179(179)
Greengrocers 102(103)
Ice Cream Dealers 309(306)
Ice Cream Manufacturers 3(3)
Food Hygiene Regulations 1955.
Some 186 notices were served as against 123 last year.
Essex County Council Act. 1952 - Section 105.
Notification under Section 105 of the Essex County Council Act, 1952
still assists us to give prior advice to intending traders.
Unsound Food.
During the year the following foods were voluntarily surrendered to the Public Health Inspectors as being unfit for human consumption:-
| Tons | Cwts | Lbs. | Ozs. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poultry | - | - | 31 | 0 |
| Meat | - | 3 | 58 | 5 |
| Fish | - | 1 | 65 | 9 |
| Vegetables | - | 5 | 40 | 0 |
| Tinned Meat | - | 15 | 1 | 10 |
| Tinned Fish | - | - | 50 | 10 |
| Tinned Milk | - | 2 | 52 | 5 |
| Tinned Food | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| Miscellaneous Groceries | - | 5 | 103 | 5 |
| Total | 2 | 18 | 69 | 3 |
Meat Inspection.
A new slaughterhouse opened in the District on the 17th March, 1961,
and for the rest of the year provided a considerable volume of meat
inspection work. Meat inspection is an onerous job, not particularly
appealing in character, demanding physically and mentally, and last
but not least, entails work at unattractive hours including week-ends.
It is not, however, alone in justifying this description. If some practicable
method could be achieved of limiting slaughtering to regular and
reasonable hours then a great advance would be made from the point of