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 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton]
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The number of inspections of registered food premises during
1971 was 1,245.
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 1971:—
| Tons. | Cwts. | Lbs. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canned foods | 7 | 7 | 96 |
| Frozen foods and ice-cream | 4 | 15 | 74 |
| Meat, bacon, poultry | - | 13 | 11 |
| Fish | - | 3 | 61 |
| Fruit and vegetables | - | 2 | 110 |
| Cereals, bread, flour | - | - | 22 |
| Peanuts | - | 1 | 56 |
| Vinegar, pickles and sauces | - | 1 | 104 |
| Cheese, butter | - | - | 93 |
| Miscellaneous | - | - | 39 |
| 13 | 7 | 106 |
The number of complaints received during the year regarding
unsound food was 325. 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 (9) ***.
Hair in loaf.
Mouse dropping in loaf.
Charred dough baked in loaf.
Old dough baked in loaf.
Beetle in wrapped loaf.
Parts of pencil in loaf *.
Oil and compounds of iron in loaf *.
Glass in bread (2) *.
Bristle in loaf.
Dirty milk bottle (22) ************.
Insects/larvae in milk (3) ***.
Glass in milk (3) *.
Mould in milk (2) **.
Paint in milk *.
Rubber particles in milk *.
Piece of cucumber in milk *.
Piece of paper in milk.
Sour milk.
Moudy canned peaches.
Mouldy canned spaghetti.
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