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 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southall]
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HYGIENE OF FOOD
Food Poisoning
Two notifications of food poisoning were received during 1964. Both of these were
confirmed bacteriologically as being due to infection with the organism Salmonella TyphiMurium,
and in addition one case notified as Dysentery was later found to be due to a
food poisoning organism, Salmonella tennessee. The contacts were followed up, but no
outbreak occurred. No specific foods could be associated with the illness in any of the
three cases.
Personal Hygiene
The free washing facilities in the public conveniences, which were brought into operation
in September, 1950, continued to be available throughout 1964. During that period
16,900 (8,500 in 1963) paper towels were issued free, and also 553 linen towels, which were
provided at a cost of 2d. per person.
Milk
The Milk (Special Designation) Regulations, 1960, transferred licensing to the food
and drugs authority, which for this area is the Middlesex County Council. Six distributors
of bottled milk registered under the Milk and Dairies (General) Regulations, 1959, making
a total of 46 on the register.
Ice Cream
The Ice Cream (Heat Treatment, etc.) Regulations, 1947-1952. There are no manufacturers
in the Borough. Sales consist almost entirely of pre-packed ice cream and serving
from cans is found only in a few restaurants.
Food Sampling
The bacteriological analyses of 195 food samples taken during the year, were carried
out bv the Public Health Laboratory Service.
One hundred and forty-three of these specimens were ice cream samples, and following bacteriological analyses the ice creams were graded as follows:—
| Table A Bacterial Plate Count Method | Table B Methylene Blue Reduction Test | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plate Count | Grade | No. of Samples | Classification | Time of Reduction | Grade | No. of Samples | Classification |
| Less than 500 | I | 42 | Excellent | Fails to reduce in 4 hours | I | 70 | Satisfactory |
| 500 to 20,000 | II | 8 | Satisfactory | 2½-4 hours | II | 13 | Fairly Satisfactory |
| 20,000 to 100,000 | III | — | Doubtful | ½-2 hours | III | 6 | Doubtful |
| Over 100,000 or Faecal Coli present | IV | — | Unsatisfactory | Less than ½ hour | IV | 4 | Unsatisfactory |