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 1918
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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36
FOOD INSPECTION.
The Regulations issued by the Local Government Board, under the Public Health
(Regulations as to Food) Act, 1907, were carried out in the Port of London, and
resulted in 1,200 tons 7 cwts. 0 qrs. 27 lbs. of Unsound Food being destroyed or
disposed of in such a manner as to prevent its being used for human consumption.
An exception is shown in the disposal of a quantity for the "manufacture of biscuits
and confectionery."This was entirely a question of a yeast fermentation of condensed
milk, in which the deleterious qualities were entirely removed by the process of
re-manufacture, and thus the use of a considerable quantity of valuable food material
was retained.
The goods were disposed of as follows, only those which could not be used for some useful purpose being actually destroyed:—
| Tons. | cwts. | qrs. | lbs. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boiled down (recovery of fat, &c.) | 335 | 10 | 1 | 15 | |
| Cattle and poultry food | 550 | 15 | 3 | 24 | |
| Manufacture of biscuits and confectionery | 234 | 1 | 0 | 8 | |
| Ditto dog biscuits | 17 | 16 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ditto adhesive (" gum ") | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Ditto glucoae | 8 | 10 | 0 | 6 | |
| , Ditto ink | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Destroyed | Buried | 40 | 13 | 3 | 14 |
| Burned | 2 | 17 | 2 | 14 | |
| Total | 1,200 | 7 | 0 | 27 | |
The total shows a reduction of 75"25 per cent, compared with the year 1917.
A summary of the Unsound Food disposed of is shown in Table XXVI.
In no instance was it necessary to apply for a Magistrate's order for the
condemnation and destruction of Unsound Food seized by your Officers.
A list of the Notices served under Articles III (5), IV. (1) and VI. of the Public
Health (Foreign Meat) Regulations, 1908, requiring the exportation of foreign meat
imported contrary to the Regulations, is shown on page 42.
BEEF.
The total quantity of beef seized and disposed of as unfit for human consumption
was 2,684 quarters, 1 crop, 417 pieces, 229 bags and a quantity of trimmings, weighing
274 tons 15 cwts. 0 qrs. 2 lbs. against 227 tons 11 cwts. 1 qr. 18 lbs. in 1917.
The largest quantity seized on any vessel was 950 quarters, &c., weighing
66 tons 7 cwts. 0 qrs. 6 lbs.
MUTTON AND LAMB.
The mutton and lamb seized and disposed of totalled 185 carcases, 106 part
carcases, and 6 cwts. 3 qrs. 4 lbs. of trimmings, weighing in all 5 tons 5 cwts. 1 qr.
20 lbs., against 44 tons 10 cwts. 2 qrs. 19 lbs. in 1917.
The largest seizure on any vessel was 153 carcases, weighing 2 tons, 10 cwts. 3 qrs.
25 lbs.