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
Barnet 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barnet Urban District Council]
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prepared by various people and "pooled". No samples of food were obtainable, but
even if some had been available it would have been most difficult to trace who made
and handled it.
Most of these cases of food poisoning are undoubtedly due to lack of hand
washing by persons preparing food. As mentioned in previous annual reports, and
during the course of inspections and visits to food preparing premises, the
importance of hand washing can never be over emphasised. If this habit can be
instilled into the growing generation we shall have advanced a step forward in
clean food preparation, but efforts must still be made to impress upon the present
generation that whether in the home, canteen, shop, etc., hand washing is a vital
factor in the prevention of ill health and disease.
ICE CREAM..
142 Samples of ice cream were taken during the year with the following results:-
| Manufacturer. | Grade I. | Grade II. | Grade III. | Grade IV. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 11 | 15 | 7 | — | 33 |
| B | 16 | — | - | 37 | |
| C | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 17 |
| D | 2 | 7 | — | — | 9 |
| E | 4 | 5 | l | 4 | 14 |
| F | 5 | 6 | l | — | 12 |
| G | 5 | l | 4 | — | 10 |
| H | — | 1 | _ | — | 1 |
| K | 7 | - | 2 | — | 5 |
| L | 2 | — | 2 | — | 4 |
| Total | 59 | 55 | 21 | 7 | 142 |
There are no manufacturers of ice cream in the district. The results of the
tests on the samples are given to the shopkeepers, and any unsatisfactory reports
are followed up with the authority in whose area the ice cream is made and with
the manufacturer direct. By the end of the year Manufacturer "E" was not
supplying in this area.