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 1921
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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41
FOOD INSPECTION.
The Regulations issued by the Local Government Board (now the Ministry
of Health) under the Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Act, 1907, were carried
out in the Port of London, and resulted in 2,616 tons, 17 cwts. 0 qrs. 16 lbs.
of Unsound Food being destroyed or disposed of in such a manner as to prevent
its being used for human consumption.
Exceptions are shown in the disposal of some of the goods for the manufacture
of confectionery, distillation and by exportation. The goods for the manufacture of
confectionery were condensed milk which had either undergone a yeast fermentation or
had been returned to this country owing to caramelisation and discolouration. The
deleterious qualities were removed in the process of re-manufacture, and thus the use
of a considerable quantity of valuable food material was retained.
The goods for distillation consist usually of dried fruits, e.q., dates, prunes, raisins
and sultanas.
The goods were disposed of as follows, only those which could not be used tor some useful purpose being actually destroyed:—
| Tons. | Cwts. | Qrs. | Lbs. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boiled down (recovery of fat, &c.) | 662 | 13 | 0 | 14 |
| Cattle and Poultry Food - | 1,038 | 2 | 0 | 23 |
| Re-manufacture (Confectionery, &c.) | 8 | 12 | 0 | 14 |
| Distillation | 15 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Exportation | 109 | 0 | 1 | 18 |
| Destroyed—Buried | 602 | 3 | 2 | 19 |
| Burned | 181 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
| Total weight | 2,616 | 17 | 0 | 16 |
The total shows a decrease of 41.2 per cent. compared with the year 1920.
PUBLIC HEALTH (FOREIGN MEAT) REGULATIONS, 1908.
During the year Notices were served under Articles III. (5), IV. (1) of the above-mentioned Regulations, for the exportation of the following meat:—
| Date of Arrival. 1921. | Name of Vessel. | Where from. | Where lying. | Description and quantity in respect of which Notices were served. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 18 s.s, | " Miltonstar " | New York | Victoria Dock | 3,554 packages pig-kidneys, 660 packages pig-livers,366 packages pig-stomachs, 1,400 boxes beef trimmings. |
| „ 27 s.s. | " Romanstar " | Buenos Ayres | Do. | 5,896 packages ox-head meat. |
| June 16 s.s. | '' Celticstar " | Punta Arenas | Do. | 10 half-carcases pork. |
| S.S. | " Saxonstar " | Rio de Janeiro | Do. | 423 bags head meat. |
| „ 15 s.s. | " Magicstar " | Zarate | Do. | 196 bags sheep-head meat. |
| Sept. 13 s.s. | " Mount Clair " | New York | West India Dock | *5 cases pig-tongues. |
| Oct. 6 s.s. | " Duquesa " | Buenos Ayres | Victoria Dock | 10 crates pork loins. |
| ,, 26 s.s. | "Empirestar" | Zarate | Royal Albert Dock | 8,623 sides pork, 269 bags pork offal. |
| Nov. 6 s.s. | " Ionicstar " | Do. | Victoria Dock | 455 sides pork. |
| Dec. 7 s.s. | " Diamant" | Ostend | Tilbury Dock | 3 barrels pig-plucks. |
The goods marked * were, at the request of the importers, disposed of by destruction. The remainder have been
exported.
Beef.—
The total quantity of frozen and chilled beef seized by your officers and disposed
of as unfit for human consumption was 3,939 quarters and crops, 183 bags and a
quantity of trimmings and pieces, the total weight being 212 tons 9 cwts. 3 qrs. 1 lb.,
against 116 tons 1 cwt. 3 qrs. 2 lbs. in the preceding year.
The largest quantity seized ex any vessel was 1,734 quarters, weighing 89 tons
19 cwts. 3 qrs. 27 lbs., from a vessel which had been on fire.