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
Merton 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton]
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Excluding meat condemned at the slaughterhouse, the following is a list of the unsound food surrendered during 1966:—
| Tons. | Cwts. | Lbs. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canned meat | 1 | 19 | 101 |
| Canned soup | — | 6 | 31 |
| Canned fish | — | — | 98 |
| Canned vegetables | — | 16 | 15 |
| Canned fruit | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| Canned pies and puddings | — | 3 | 82 |
| Canned milk and cream | — | 3 | 43 |
| Canned spaghetti | — | — | 31 |
| Miscellaneous canned foods | — | 1 | 87 |
| Meat, bacon and poultry | 3 | 3 | 24 |
| Sausages | — | — | 1 |
| Fish | — | — | 54 |
| Spaghetti | — | — | 15 |
| Puddings and pastry | — | — | 5 |
| Butter, fat and cheese | — | 3 | 76 |
| Flour, bread and cereals | — | 4 | 30 |
| Pie fillings | — | 3 | 5 |
| Sugar, jam and syrup | — | 3 | 105 |
| Sage, salt and salad cream | — | 1 | 35 |
| Fruit and vegetable juices | — | 2 | 67 |
| Dried Fruit | — | 3 | 64 |
| Frozen foods | — | 17 | 21 |
| Beverages | — | 1 | 4 |
| Confectionery | — | 5 | 43 |
| Fruit and vegetables | — | 2 | 21 |
| Miscellaneous foods | — | 1 | 62 |
| 10 | 9 | 7 |
The number of complaints received during the year regarding
unsound food was 258. These included references to extraneous
matter in food and a detailed investigation was made in each case.
Informal action was taken in the majority of cases, but certain of the
items marked * in the following list were the subject of legal proceedings.
Foreign bodies found in loaves of bread—mould growth on
wrapped bread (5); insects (2); carbon and grease (3);
plastic material; wire; dirty and stale dough; flour bag
labels*; foreign matter.
Biscuits infested with insects (2)*.
Milk stone in milk.
Stones and glass in bottle of milk.
Metal in bottle of milk.
Dirty milk bottles (16)*. See note below.
Mould growth in prepacked bacon*.
Slug in fried chipped potatoes*.
Mould growth on cooked chicken*.
Maggots in rolled roast lamb.
Black matter in canned braised beef.
Discolouration of canned corned beef.
Wire in smoked luncheon meat.
Rust in canned ham.
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