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
Hornchurch 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hornchurch]
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| Complaint | Action Taken |
|---|---|
| Packet of dates containing a maggot. | Identified as a larva of the dried current moth. Probably present when packed in dates in Iraq. Matter taken up with Importer. |
| White loaf containing piece of string. | Bakery warned. |
| Bottle of cream containing specks of dirt. | Dairy informed but evidence not conclusive enough to warrant further action. |
| Two slices of white bread alleged to contain insect. | No insect found but traces of discoloured dough. No further action. |
| Two slices and crust of bread alleged to be moist. | Bread not unfit. No further action. |
| Bottle of milk with blackish particles. | Dairy informed. No further action. No evidence that particles were in bottle at time of delivery. |
| Portion of slab fruit cake containing a stone. | Bakery warned. |
| Chicken and veal pie affected with mould. | Vendor prosecuted. Fined £5. |
| Loaf of bread with peculiar taste also presence of wood louse. | Bakery informed. Peculiar taste due to salt being inadvertently omitted from a batch of loaves. No evidence to show that wood louse was in bread at time of delivery. |
| Sausages containing alleged fragment of glass. | Manufacturers informed but no further action taken as evidence was inconclusive. |
| Meat with alleged blue stain. | Investigation showed this to be probably due to a meat marking stamp. No further action. |
| Packet of toasties containing insects. | Insects identified as "Australian Spider Beetle." Warning letter to Vendor. |
| Brown loaf affected with mould. | Bakery informed. No further action taken in view of time lag between purchase of loaf and receipt of complaint. |
| Flaked rice contaminated with weevils. | Vendor prosecuted. Case adjourned sine die. |
| Pork pie affected with mould. | Vendor prosecuted. Fined £10. |
| Bread rolls alleged to be dirty. | Bakery informed. Investigation showed that contamination probably vegetable oil. No further action. |