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
City of London 1915
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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86
FOOD INSPECTION.
The carrying out of the Regulations issued by the Local Government Board, under
the Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Act, 1907, in the Port of London has this
year resulted in the seizure by your Officers of 3,118 tons 5 cwts. 3 qrs. 19 lbs. of
Unsound Food, which have been destroyed or disposed of in such a manner as to
prevent its being used for human consumption.
On one occasion this quantity has been exceeded.
A summary of the Unsound Food seized is shown by Table XXVII.
In no instance was it necessary to apply for a magistrate's order for the destruction
of Unsound Food seized by your Officers.
The total receipts of all kinds of frozen and chilled meats into the United Kingdom
in 1915 amounted to 664,508 tons, as against 694,427 tons in 1914, and 720,257 tons
in 1913.
The world's export output of frozen and chilled beef, mutton and lamb in 1915 is
estimated at 882,658 tons, compared with 800,413 tons in 1914.
BEEF.
The total arrivals of frozen and chilled beef was 5,632,105 quarters, compared Avith|5,788,147 quarters in 1914, being a decrease of 156,042 quarters.
| Australia contributed | 1,143,779 frozen quarters. |
| New Zealand „ | 482,232 „ |
| South America „ | 2,228,493 „ |
| ,, ,, ,, | 1,162,898 chilled „ |
| Other countries „ | 258,761 frozen „ |
| ,, ,, ,, | 355,942 chilled „ |
| Total | 5,632,105 quarters. |
The number of quarters discharged from vessels in the Port of London was :—
| From Australia | 697,664 frozen quarters. |
| ,, New Zealand | 457,759 „ ,, |
| „ South America | 419,104 „ ,, |
| ,, ,, ,, | 1,009,411 chilled ,, |
| „ other countries | 152,669 frozen „ |
| ,, ,, ,, | 55,552 chilled ,, |
| Total | 2,792,159 quarters. |
This was an increase of 365,654 quarters and represented 49'57 per cent, (compared
with 41*92 per cent, in 1914) of the total quantity imported into the United
Kingdom.
The quantity seized by your officers and destroyed as unfit for human food was
294 tons 18 cwts. 2 qrs. 20 lbs., and comprised 3,903 quarters and crops, 257 pieces
and sundry bags and trimmings.
The largest quantity seized on any ship was 2,296 quarters, weighing 185 tons
9 cwts. 0 qrs. 27 lbs. on a vessel which arrived in the Port in a damaged condition.