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
Carshalton 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Carshalton]
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Milk and Dairies Regulations, 1949—Regulation 20.
The powers provided by this section allow the Medical Officer of
Health to deal with any milk supply which he has reason to believe might
be a source of infection to man, either by prohibiting its use for human
consumption or requiring it to be appropriately treated before consumption.
It was not found necessary to use this authority during the year.
Analyses.
The number of samples submitted to the Public Analyst for qualitative
analysis was 224. Of these 198 were formal samples including 21 of "Channel
Isles" and 8 "South Devon" milks. All were found to be satisfactory. The
average fat content of all samples examined was 3.66% and the solids not
fat, 8.79%.
Ice Cream
The high standard of bacterial purity achieved in 1954 was maintained as is shown in the following table, since all samples taken in 1955 were found to be within the two highest grades and the great majority in the first grade.
| Year | No. of samples | Grade | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 1947 | 84 | 14 | 16 | 36 | 18 |
| 1948 | 147 | 52 | 26 | 53 | 16 |
| 1949 | 139 | 69 | 33 | 28 | 9 |
| 1950 | 155 | 103 | 29 | 16 | 7 |
| 1951 | 105 | 80 | 19 | 6 | — |
| 1952 | 94 | 70 | 17 | 7 | — |
| 1953 | 84 | 78 | 6 | — | — |
| 1954 | 98 | 94 | 2 | 2 | — |
| 1955 | 98 | 93 | 5 | — | — |
Ten samples analysed by the Public Analyst conformed to the standards
of quality required by the Food and Drugs Act and its Regulations.
Ice Cream (Heat Treatment, etc.) Regulations, 1947-1952.
There are no manufacturers of Ice Cream in the district, all the
registered retailers drawing their supplies from reputed manufacturers
outside the area.
All retailers are provided with refrigerator cabinets which maintain a
temperature well below 28 °F in accordance with the regulations.
Meat
All meat sold by retail is supplied from Ministry of Food depots
outside the district. No slaughtering within the district is carried on as far
as is known. Inspection of meat, therefore, is limited to that displayed for
sale or held by retailers prior to sale.
The quantity of meat found to be unfit for human consumption was
5,753 lbs. 8 ozs.
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