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 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barnet Urban District Council]
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(19)
FOOD AMD DRUGS ACT.1938.
Those sections of the above Act concerning sampling of food-stuffs for
adulteration and sophistication are enforced by the County Authority in
this district.
The following details shew the number and nature of the samples taken in the Urban District of Barnet during the year, and the results of the analyses.
| Article. | No. of Samples Taken. | Genuine. | Adulterated. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | 11 | 11 | – |
| Lollies | 2 | 2 | – |
| Porridge Oats | 1 | 1 | - |
| Iodised Table Salt | 1 | 1 | — |
| Total | 15 | 15 | - |
In view of the Ministry of Health suggestions that samples should be
taken on the ratio of 3 per 1,000 of the population the number taken in this
district could with advantage still be increased, particularly having regard
to the fact that Barnet, as a shopping centre, serves a greater number of
people than the resident population.
The provisional figures of the 1951 Census indicate that the population
of the district is in excess of 20,000, at which figure the local authority
may make application to become the Food and Drugs authority.
The Council will automatically become the Shops Acts authority on
publication of the final census figures and it would appear that the duties
of inspection of shops for clean food, adulterated food and hours of closing
etc., could well be carried out by one authority and not by two as
now. The Council has resolved to make application for the additional powers
and must await publication of the final census report in order to proceed.
PRIVATE SLAUGHTER-HOUSES AND
SLAUGHTER OF ANIMALS ACT. 1933.
Since Food Rationing was introduced the Private Slaughter-houses in the
district, three in number, have been closed, meat rationing being more easily
organised and administered from one abbatoir supplying a large area than from
a number of small slaughter-houses in each district. It was doubtful