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
Harrow 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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51
before doing so must notify the Medical Officer of Health of the district to
which the condemned meat is being consigned of the names and addresses
of the consignees. Condemned meat and other material shall be stained
green in accordance with the provisions of the Livestock (Restriction
on Slaughtering) Order, 1947, before delivery to the buyer.
When an officer of a local authority has inspected any meat or offal
belonging to the Minister and has found it to be unfit for human consumption,
the local authority may dispose of such meat or offal as it
thinks fit.
(C)
The following is a summary of all foods condemned in Harrow as unsound or unfit for human consumption during 1951, 1952 and 1953.
| 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| lbs. | lbs. | lbs. | |
| Groceries, Miscellaneous | 3,478 | 7,543 | 3,942 |
| Fish | 1,327 | 1,475 | 849 |
| Vegetables | 1,479 | 4,579 | 968 |
| Fruit | 2,246 | 3,131 | 5,319 |
| Meat, Meat Products | 8,693 | 8,338 | 8,269 |
| Total | 17,223 | 25,067 | 19,319 |
| Eggs | No. | No. | No. |
| 3,517 | 449 | 1,365 |
These figures show a decrease in 1953 of nearly 25 per cent. on those
of 1952 and a slight increase on those of 1951.
The amount of groceries condemned in 1952 was exceptionally high,
partly because of damage by the flood, and during 1953 fell to a weight
only slightly above the 1951 figures.
There has been a substantial decrease in the amount of fish condemned
partly perhaps because of more careful and more speedy handling, but
also because of the comparatively cool summer weather.
The 1952 increase in the condemnation of tinned fruit has
continued through 1953. Tinned plums accounted for 60% of the fruit
found unfit, the remainder being made up of 24 other types of fruit.
Although the amount of home-killed meat condemned has risen
mainly because of increased supplies, this has been offset by a decrease
in the amount of imported meat found unfit, so the total is much the same
as in 1952.
Many more eggs were condemned, 1,365 as against 449 in 1952,
though this is still lower than any other year since the war.
Disposal of Unsound Food. The method of disposal of unsound
food varies with the nature of the food and the circumstances giving rise
to its surrender or condemnation.