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
Hillingdon 1967
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hillingdon]
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72 Environmental Health
There were 205 samples of imported food submitted for bacteriological examination with the following results:—
| Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked sausages | 42 | 5 |
| Salami and Dry Sausage | 10 | 16 |
| Debreziner Roast | 15 | 27 |
| Ham | 1 | 2 |
| Pate | 7 | - |
| Other cooked meats | 18 | 1 |
| Meat Salad | 2 | |
| Cured Ham and Pork | 4 | 10 |
| Fresh Meat | 15 | — |
| Cooked Poultry Meat | 4 | — |
| Mayonnaise | 6 | — |
| Cream | 1 | — |
| Cheese | 2 | 1 |
| Fish | 5 | — |
| Shellfish | 5 | 1 |
| Snails | 1 | 1 |
| Frogs Legs | 1 | 1 |
| Watercress | — | 1 |
| Totals | 139 | 66 |
On the receipt of an unsatisfactory result for any food, both the Importer and Exporter are advised
of the position and in most cases there is an improvement in the standard of further imports. In four of
the samples examined, Salmonella was isolated. These foods were traced through the trade and withdrawn
from sale.
Hygiene of Food Premises
In an airport of this size, there are numerous catering establishments varying in type and size.
There are large restaurants, catering for passengers, buffets and both industrial and non-industrial
canteens. Several of these establishments are open throughout the 24 hours, which in itself creates a
difficult cleaning problem.
In addition to the above there are several establishments carrying out aircraft catering, i.e. preparing
meals for serving on aircraft. In some cases the food is prepared, cooked and placed in insulated containers
for immediate service without further heating, and in others the food after being prepared,
cooked and refrigerated requires reheating on the aircraft.
Regular inspections of all these premises are carried out and samples of both the prepared and raw
food are taken for bacteriological and chemical examination.
Vermin Control
In order to exercise adequate control it is necessary to carry out regular inspections of buildings,
land and aircraft.
Aircraft
The amount of infestation on aircraft is quite small but from time to time rats are found and on
these occasions the aircraft is fumigated immediately with Hydrogen Cyanide. Occasionally other
insects are discovered and disinsectisation is carried out immediately. There were six fumigations
carried out for rats in 1967.