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
Richmond upon Thames 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond]
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40
Milk—Licencing and Sampling.
Under the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, and
Regulations made thereunder, Dairy Farms have become the direct
responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries: the
premises on which milk is pasteurised or sterilised are licensed by the
Food and Drugs Authority and in all other cases, Dairies or Dealers
in Designated milk come under the complete control of the Local
Authority in respect of licencing, inspection and control.
There is one dairy farm within the Borough under the control
of the Ministry, and there is one pasteurising plant licensed by the
Council as the Food and Drugs Authority.
The following licences have been granted by the Council authorising dealers to store and sell Designated milks: —
| Pasteurised Milk | 18 |
| Tuberculin Tested Milk | 18 |
| Sterilised Milk | 21 |
Supplementary licences were also granted, authorising dealers to retail milk in the Borough from premises situated outside, as follows: —
| Pasteurised Milk | 9 |
| Tuberculin Tested Milk | 9 |
| Sterilised Milk | 8 |
All premises are inspected before licences are granted, and
principal licences are verified with the appropriate local authorities
before licences are issued.
No licences were refused.
Under the regulations the Local Authority continued to take samples from dealers and during the year under review the following were taken : —
| Pasteurised Milk | 90 samples |
| Number found unsatisfactory | Nil |
| Tuberculin Tested (Pasteurised) Milk | 8 „ |
| Number found unsatisfactory | Nil |
| Raw Milk examined biologically for the presence of Tubercle bacilli | 3 „ |
| Number found unsatisfactory | Nil |
The District Medical Officer of Health retains the power to take
appropriate action to prevent the spread of disease by infected milk-