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 1968
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton]
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No. of swabs Result.
Article. taken. Satisfactory. Unsatisfactory.
Beer mugs and glasses 47 40 7
Wine and spirit glasses 14 13 1
Plates 73 64 9
Cups and beakers 59 50 9
Knives 19 18 1
Forks 54 49 5
Spoons 43 40 3
Serving trays 2 2 —
In addition 19 samples of ice-cream server water were submitted
for bacteriological examination, ten of which were unsatisfactory.
Special visits were made to premises from which unsatisfactory
swabs were taken, and the occupiers were advised upon principles
of hygiene to effect improvement.
Food Inspection.
Unsound food which is surrendered to the Health Department
is destroyed at the refuse disposal works by arrangement with the
Greater London Council.
Excluding meat condemned at the slaughterhouse, the following is a list of unsound food surrendered during 1968:—
| Tons. | Cwts. | Lbs. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canned foods | 4 | 7 | 17 |
| Frozen foods | 1 | 17 | 34 |
| Meat, bacon and poultry | — | 16 | 39 |
| Flour, bread and cereals | — | 9 | 92 |
| Confectionery | — | — | 90 |
| Sugar, jam and syrup | — | 1 | 53 |
| Beverages | — | 3 | 48 |
| Butter, fat and cheese | — | 8 | 63 |
| Salt | — | 5 | 66 |
| Spices | — | 7 | 21 |
| Fruit and vegetables | — | 1 | 24 |
| Wines, spirits and liqueurs | 1 | 12 | 44 |
| Minerals and vegetable juices | 4 | 1 | 48 |
| Puddings and pastry | — | — | 52 |
| Fish | — | 2 | 79 |
| Sausages | — | — | 41 |
| Vinegar, pickles and sauce | 1 | 5 | 67 |
| Miscellaneous | 7 | 9 | — |
| 23 | 10 | 94 |
The quantity of unsound food (7 tons 9 cwts. under the heading
'Miscellaneous') was mainly as the result of the extensive flooding
in the area which was occasioned by the excessive rainfall on 15 th
September, 1968. The examination and destruction of food and drink
which was contaminated by flood water caused a great deal of work
during the period immediately following 15th September and the
actual quantity of foodstuffs surrendered and destroyed under supervision
was 12½ tons, in addition to 9,350 bottles of beer, wine, spirits
and soft drinks. This inspection work was greatly facilitated by the
ready co-operation of shopkeepers, licensees and the manufacturing
and brewery firms concerned.
66