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12
Food poisoning
There were four outbreaks of food poisoning during the year:—
(a) The first occurred in a work's canteen and affected 32 workers. The illness was mild and they speedily
recovered. The causative organism was not identified. All those affected had eaten roast beef but none was
available for bacteriological examination. The beef was cooked on a Saturday, left to cool slowly, placed in
a refrigerator over the weekend and served warm on Monday. It was probable that it was contaminated after
cooking as it was not cooled rapidly before being placed in the refrigerator and when re-cooked two days
later the contamination survived because it was only warmed and not well heated.
(b) The second occurred in a private school and 6 teachers and 20 children were affected, but they recovered
quickly. The food causing the outbreak was prepared at a Kosher meals centre in Kensington and delivered
to the school in sealed containers. Notification of the outbreak was not received until four days after it
occurred, and it was not possible, therefore, to identify the causative organism or the food responsible.
(c) The third occurred in the nurses dining room at a hospital and affected 30 nurses, who speedily recovered.
The causative organism was Clostridium Welchii, which was found in a specimen of boiled beef eaten by all
those affected. The beef was boiled, placed in two large pans and left to cool with the lids ajar for seventeen
hours, re-cooked and served. It should have been cooled rapidly (within 1½ hours) and placed in a refrigerator,
but this was impossible as the refrigerator in the kitchen was unable to accommodate the meat, being
already filled with other perishables. It was inadequate in size for the kitchen, which catered for 300 staff.
In addition, the general poor condition of the walls and ceilings and the absence of proper hand washing
arrangements were an added handicap to the staff in their efforts to keep the food handled free from contamination.
The Hospital Secretary and the Medical Director were advised of these deficiencies.
(d) The fourth occurred in a factory canteen and affected 20 workers. The causative organism was Clostridium
Welchii Type 1, which was found in a specimen of steak and kidney pie eaten by all those affected,
and also in specimens of fæces submitted by four of them. The fresh meat for the steak and kidney pie was
cooked and left to cool in a pan for 5½ hours, then placed in a refrigerator. It was made into a pie the following
day, cooked for half and hour and left in an oven until served. It was probable that the meat was
contaminated after cooking as it was not cooled rapidly before being placed in the refrigerator, and when
re-cooked the following day the contamination survived a further cooking.
Food unfit for human consumption
More than 3¼ tons and 9,250 tins of food inspected by the Public Health Inspectors were found to
be unfit for human consumption (Table 41).
All the food was dealt with as trade refuse by the Borough Engineer's Department, and deposited
on the controlled refuse tip.
A complaint was received in July that a shopkeeper was selling cooked pork which was unsound.
An inspection revealed that the pork was contaminated with maggots. Two pounds of pork were seized,
taken before a Justice and condemned. Legal proceedings were taken under the Food and Drugs Act, 1955,
and the shopkeeper was fined £75 with £3.3.0 costs.
Contaminated food
22 specimens of contaminated food were dealt with by the department. They included larvae in
chocolate biscuits, currants, egg rusks and prunes; a caterpillar in a tin of peas mouldy growth in a pork
pie and an apple pie; dirt in a bottle of cream; splinters of glass in a milk bottle; disinfectant in currant
buns; a fly in a bottle of mineral water; and paper, dirt, a button, grease from vegetable oil, mould and a
cigarette end in loaves of bread.
No action was taken in four of them because of insufficient evidence. Of the remaining 18, 12
firms were cautioned and the Council decided to prosecute the other 6. The results of 5 prosecutions were
as follows:—
1. £5 with 5 guineas costs for selling bread containing paper;
2. £5 with 2 guineas costs for selling bread containing oil;
3. £5 with 5 guineas costs for selling bread containing mould;
4. £5 with 5 guineas costs for selling rusks containing larvae;
5. Absolute discharge on payment of 3 guineas costs for selling currants containing larvae.
The defendant in the sixth case died before a summons was issued.
One dirty milk bottle was reported but this was referred to another local authority for action
because the milk was bottled in their area.
Clean food sampling
The Middlesex County Council is responsible for taking samples and for supervising the control
of food adulteration (Table 42). The Chief Officer of the Public Control Department has kindly supplied the
following information:—
Of the twelve firms who were concerned in the 19 samples found to be unsatisfactory, 2 were prosecuted,
4 were officially cautioned, 3 were warned and no action was taken against the other 3.
A sample of milk was found to be low in solids not fat; a subsequent sample was satisfactory and
no further action was taken.
No action was taken in the case of two samples of iodine solution of a strength in excess of the
British Pharmacopoeia's prescribed standard; in one case a further sample was of the correct strength, and
no further supply of the other brand was available.