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 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton]
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Bacteriological Examination of Equipment.
During the year 99 swabbings of articles of equipment used in food premises and catering establishments were submitted to the Public Health Laboratory for bacteriological examination. The results were as follows:—
| No. of swabs Result. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Article. | taken. | Satisfactory. | Unsatisfactory |
| Beer mugs and glasses | 10 | 10 | — |
| Plates | 15 | 15 | — |
| Cups and beakers | 20 | 20 | — |
| Forks | 15 | 15 | — |
| Spoons | 15 | 15 | — |
| Kitchen equipment | 24 | 24 | — |
The taking of swabs was suspended during the year, on the advice
of the Director of the Public Health Laboratory owing to pressure on
Laboratory services for investigations with a high degree of priority.
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.
The following is a list of unsound food surrendered during 1970:—
| Tons. | Cwts. | Lbs. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canned foods | 7 | 19 | 57 |
| Frozen foods and ice-cream | 5 | 2 | 56 |
| Meat, bacon and poultry | 2 | — | 82 |
| Confectionery | — | — | 14 |
| Sugar, jam, syrup | — | 6 | 94 |
| Beverages | — | 1 | 23 |
| Butter, fat and cheese | — | 5 | 44 |
| Fruit and vegetables | — | — | 53 |
| Minerals and vegetable juices | — | 1 | 17 |
| Puddings and pastry | — | 5 | 58 |
| Fish | — | 4 | 44 |
| Cereal, bread and flour | — | 4 | 21 |
| Vinegar, pickles and sauce | — | 3 | 30 |
| Miscellaneous | — | 1 | 82 |
| 16 | 17 | 3 |
The number of complaints received during the year regarding
unsound food was 287. 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 bread:—
Mould growth on wrapped bread (10)**.
Metal in loaf (2)*.
Insect in loaf (2).
Plastic in loaf.
Oil in loaf*.
Dirt/foreign matter in loaf (2)
Brown stains in loaf.
73