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 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond upon Thames]
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and shortage, in establishing the basic cleaning routines which are vitally important if
clean and safe food is to be offered to the public.
Despite such difficulties it is pleasing to record that no legal proceedings were
instituted for breaches of the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations.
The control of food hawkers is exercised by registration under the provisions of Section 11, Middlesex County Council Act, 1950, and during the year 7 persons and 3 premises were registered and 114 inspections made.
| Type of Premises. | No. of Premises | No. of Premises which comply with Reg. 16* | No. of Premises to which Reg. 19 appliest | No. of Premises which comply with Reg. 19 | No. of Visits carried out. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakehouses | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 258 |
| Butchers' Shops | 125 | 125 | 125 | 125 | 624 |
| Confectioners (Flour) | 60 | 60 | — | — | 133 |
| Confectioners (Sugar) | 282 | 282 | — | — | 208 |
| Dairies | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 44 |
| Fishmongers and Poulterers | 39 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 106 |
| Fried Fish Shops | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 101 |
| Greengrocers and Fruiterers | 143 | 143 | 143 | 143 | 319 |
| Grocers | 321 | 321 | 321 | 321 | 1013 |
| Ice Cream Premises—Manufacture | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| Ice Cream Premises—Sale and Storage | 518 | 518 | — | — | 171 |
| Public Houses and Licensed Premises | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 170 |
| Restaurants, Cafes and Canteens | 222 | 222 | 222 | 222 | 738 |
| 1831 | 1831 | 971 | 971 | 3885 |
* Regulation 16 deals with the provision of wash-hand basins for the use of all persons engaged
in the handling of food.
† Regulation 19 deals with the provision of facilities for washing food and equipment.
(3) Food Sampling.
Under the powers of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, and in conjunction with the
regulations and orders made thereunder, samples are procured for the purpose of
chemical analysis and for bacteriological and other examination. Chemical analysis
ensures that foods are in fact, what they are proclaimed to be; that no injurious substances
have been added and no constituents extracted so as to injuriously affect the
nature, substance, or quality of the food; that no colouring matter nor preservatives
have been added, except in the foods permitted and within the maximum quantities
allowed. Bacteriological and other examination includes the tests employed to ensure
that foods are free from pathogenic organisms and, with regard to milk and ice cream,
that the heat treatment processes have been carried out satisfactorily.
Samples for chemical analysis are submitted to the Public Analyst, D. D. Moir,
Esq., M.Sc., F.R.I.C., and those for bacteriological and other examination to the Public
Health Laboratory Service, Epsom. The invaluable help and advice given by the Public
Analyst, and the co-operation received from the staff of the Public Health Laboratory
Service have contributed in great measure to the effectiveness of food sampling in the
Borough.
During the year one hundred and ninety-nine samples were procured for chemical
analysis and of these, fourteen were considered to be irregular. The following table
shows the various types of food sampled and the results obtained.
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