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
Southall 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southall]
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Satisfactory communication has been maintained during the year with the County Public Control Department and the report on the work carried out in Southall by the staff of that Department is as follows:—
| Article | Total Samples Procured | Unsatisfactory |
|---|---|---|
| Milk, various | 191 | 25 |
| Butter | 9 | - |
| Cakes | 9 | - |
| Cake Mixture | 1 | - |
| Chocolate Drink | 1 | - |
| Cooked Meats | 2 | - |
| Cream | 3 | - |
| Curry Powder | 1 | - |
| Drugs | 7 | - |
| Fish | 5 | - |
| Fruit Squash | 1 | - |
| Ice Cream | 1 | - |
| Liver | 11 | - |
| Margarine | 1 | - |
| Marmalade | 1 | - |
| Marzipan | 1 | - |
| Meat | 1 | - |
| Meat Pie | 1 | - |
| Minced Meat | 6 | - |
| Non-brewed Condiment | 1 | - |
| Orange Drink | 1 | 1 |
| Peas | 1 | — |
| Rum Flavouring | 1 | - |
| Sausages | 9 | 3 |
| Sweets | 1 | - |
| Table Creams | I | - |
| Tea | 1 | - |
| Vinegar | 10 | 2 |
| Victoria Plums | 4 | - |
| Wines and Spirits | 3 | - |
| Totals | 286 | 3i |
Milk. Twenty-three of these samples were of new milk slightly deficient in fat. Seven
farmers were involved, and in 4 cases associated samples were found to be genuine and
therefore no action was taken. In the other 3 cases, the deficiencies appeared to be from
natural causes and an informative letter was sent to the farmer in each case. The remaining
2 samples were of hot milk procured from a cafe in the Borough and which contained added
water. The proprietor was prosecuted and fined £1, and ordered to pay £1 is. od. costs.
Orange Drink. This sample, taken from a large firm of retail grocers, was found to
contain mould. An official caution was issued.
Vinegar. Two samples, procured from one vendor, were deficient in acetic acid.
An official caution was given.
Sausages. Three samples of sausages, from different retailers, contained undeclared
preservative. In 2 cases, when a follow-up sample was procured, the presence of preservative
was disclosed. In the third case, an official caution was issued.
Merchandise Marks Acts, 1887-1926. 245 inspections of shops were undertaken to
ensure that the Marking Order relating to certain imported foodstuffs made under the
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