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
Stepney 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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During the. year the Borough Council successfully opposed
a representation to the Ministry of Food by the Port Health
Authority to have these and other Food and Drugs Act powers
transferred to the latter authority. The canteens are
largely patronised by dockers who are resident in Stepney and
the Borough Council considered that continued supervision by
the Council's Food Inspectors would be most adequate and appropriate.
Milk Supply. There are 265 distributors in the Borough,
including 21 with dairies and 30 itinerants. During the year
264 inspections were made and 13 Notices served.
Fourteen samples of milk, 10 for chemical and 4 for bacteriological
examination were taken in the course of delivery
to hospitals and schools in the Borough. All the samples
were satisfactory.
Milk (Special Designations ) (Pasteurised & Sterilised
Milk) & (Raw Milk) Regulations. 1949. 463 licences were.
issued during the year, including 189 for "Pasteurised" milk,
217 for "Sterilised" milk, 56 for "Tuberculin Tested" milk and
one Pasteuriser's licence.
Bacteriological examination of foodstuffs. The following samples were submitted for bacteriological examination:-
| Nature of Sample. | No.of Samples | No. Unsat. | Observations. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk. | 34 | - | |
| Cakes. | 2 | - | |
| Canned Cooked Pork. | 2 | - | |
| Canned Jellied Veal. | 4 | 1. | Staphylococcus aureus and aerobics present; 440 tins destroyed. |
| Canned Ham. | 1 | 1. | Staph. aureus and albus present. (Ham destroyed). |
| Cooking Fats. | 2 | 2. | Staph. aureus and albus present. |
| Ham Roll. | 1 | 1. | Staph. aureus and Bacillus proteus present. |
| Beef Sausages. | 2 | - | |
| Canned Raspberries. | 2 | - | |
| Synthetic Cream Filling | 20 | (see below). | |
| Ice Cream. | 74 | (see over ). |
The synthetic cream fillings were found to contain bacteria
varying from less than 100 to over a million per ml. All
unsatisfactory samples were followed up and necessary improvements
effected in the methods of production.
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