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
Malden and Coombe 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Malden & Coombe]
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22.
to reach grades I or II give reasonable grounds to indicate defects in
manufacture or handling requiring further investigation. The certificate
giving the results of testing has the following note appended:
"Owing to the numerous factors governing the hygienic quality
of ice-cream it is unwise to pay too much attention to the
bacteriological results of any single sample. Judgement should
be based rather on a series of samples. It is suggested over a
six monthly period 50 per cent of vendors samples should fall into
grade I, 80 per cent into grades I or II, not more than 20 per cent
into grade III and none into grade IV".
The following table shows the results of samples taken since
1947:
| Year | Samples Taken | Grades I or II | % | Grade III | % | Grade IV | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | 29 | 13 | 44.8 | 13 | 44.8 | 3 | 10.4 |
| 1948 | 84 | 55 | 65.4 | 22 | 26.2 | 7 | 8.4 |
| 1949 | 63 | 54 | 85.7 | 8 | 12.7 | 1 | 1.6 |
| 1950 | 85 | 81 | 95.3 | 4 | 4.7 | 0 | - |
| 1951 | 79 | 74 | 93.7 | 5 | 6.3 | 0 | - |
| 1952 | 76 | 71 | 93.4 | 5 | 6.6 | 0 | - |
| 1953 | 46 | 43 | 93.5 | 1 | 2.2 | 2 | 4.3 |
| 1954 | 51 | 39 | 76.5 | 9 | 17.6 | 3 | 5.9 |
| 1955 | 40 | 37 | 92.5 | 2 | 5.0 | 1 | 2.5 |
| 1956 | 52 | 48 | 92.3 | 4 | 7.7 | 0 | - |
| 1957 | 54 | 54 | 100.0 | 0 | - | 0 | - |
It is pleasing to note that for the first time no samples were
in categories III and IV.
MERCHANDISE MARKS ACT.
As the Council appoints an analyst for the purposes of the Food
and Drugs Act, 1955, they may execute any of the provisions of the
Merchandise Marks Act other than those relating to importation, so far
as relates to any foodstuff to which an Order in Council under the Act
applies. These are administered by my department.
Inspections were made but it was not necessary to take any action
during the year.
HEATING APPLIANCES (FIREGUARDS) ACT. 1952.
This Act is to ensure that adequate guards are provided for
heating appliances and standards are prescribed.
Visits have been made to shops selling heating appliances during
the year but in all cases the appliances inspected were satisfactory.
RAG FLOCK & OTHER FILLING MATERIALS ACT. 1951.
One renewal of a licence to store rag flock was issued for a
wholesale store.