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 1970

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hillingdon]

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Table: Details of these complaints were as follows:

Details of these complaints were as follows:

FoodForeign MatterMouldType of Foreign Body
Milk262Dirty milk bottles, etc.
Butter1Excess salt
Cheese12Insect
Bread1619Piece of plastic; dough deposits; edible oil; string; wire; insects
Bacon21Maggots
Canned Meat26Insects; solder
Cooked Meat and Meat Products106Stone; glass; paper; pellet
Meat Pies110Rubber band
Fruit (canned)32Lint; rust
Fish62Parasites
Vegetables67Insects; wire
Cereals8Insects
Sweets22Maggots
Confectionery116String; bolt; ants
Other foods132Centipede; wire; insects
10867
Total: 175 food complaints.

Table: Seven prosecutions were taken as a result of food complaints; details are set out in the following table. A further six prosecutions are awaiting court hearings at the time of writing the report.

Seven prosecutions were taken as a result of food complaints; details are set out in the following table. A further six prosecutions are awaiting court hearings at the time of writing the report.

OffenceStatuteTrade of DefendantFineCostsTotal
1. Selling a mouldy cakeSection 2, Food and Drugs Act, 1955Grocers£10£3 3s.£13 3s.
2. Selling mouldy cheeseSection 2, Food and Drugs Act, 1955Grocers£10£3 3s.£13 3s.
3. Selling loaf containing insectSection 2, Food and Drugs Act, 1955Baker£25£25
4. Selling a mouldy cakeSection 2, Food and Drugs Act, 1955Confectioners£10£8£18
5. Foreign matter in milkSection 2, Food and Drugs Act, 1955Wholesale Dairy£20£9£29
6. Use of dirty bottleMilk and Dairies (Gen.) Regulations, 1959, Regulation 27Wholesale Dairy£20£5£25
7. Supplying unfit sausage meatSection 8, Food and Drugs Act, 1955Wholesale Butchers£20£10£30