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 1925
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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44
FOOD INSPECTION.
Action under the Regulations of the Ministry of Health made under the Public
Health (Regulations as to Food) Act, 1907, and the Public Health (Imported Food)
Regulations, 1925, which came into operation on the 1st June, 1925, resulted in
1,423 tons 11 cwts. 0 qrs. 19 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, refining and by exportation.
Disposal of the material was carried out as follows, only those goods which could not be used for some useful purpose being actually destroyed.
| Tons. | Cwts. | Qrs. | Lbs. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boiled down (recovery of fat, &c.) | 110 | 9 | 1 | 12 |
| Cattle and Poultry Food | 621 | 15 | 2 | 21 |
| Re-manufacture (Confectionery, &c.) | 8 | 14 | 2 | 20 |
| Distillation | 6 | 2 | 27 | |
| Refining | 534 | 5 | 1 | 27 |
| Exportation | 37 | 8 | 2 | 18 |
| Destroyed—Buried | 52 | 11 | 3 | 21 |
| Burned | 52 | 2 | 2 | 13 |
| Total weight | 1,423 | 11 | 0 | 19 |
The number of seizures made during the year, was 1,196, this being the highest
number ever reached.
The detention and control of Fats under the new Regulations has created a
large increase in the amount of clerical work performed in the office.
From 1st June to 31st December the following tallow, &c., was dealt with:—
33,707 casks (detained in docks).
17,667 ,, (overside discharge to various wharves).
Actinomycosis in Ox Tongues.—A percentage examination of every consignment
is carried out in the Port Sanitary District, the balance being allowed
to proceed to recognised Cold Stores outside the district and held there pending
the result of the dock examination.
About 312 consignments were put into Dock Store, where a careful examination
of some 55,988 tongues was made by your officers. 1,137, equalling 2.01 per
cent., were found to be affected with Actinomycosis.
68 consignments showed disease ranging from 2.0 to 18.1 per cent.
Ox Tongue Roots.—All tongue roots landed in the Port are placed into Dock
Store and a percentage examination made. About 31 consignments, totalling
34,047, were examined, and 535, equalling 1.57 per cent., found to be diseased.
Beef.—The total quantity destroyed was 64 tons 19 cwts. 2 qrs. 7 lbs.
A vessel arrived, during April, with about 500 tons of damaged beef on board.
This was allowed to be removed from the dock to various premises for fat melting
only. This consignment is not included in the Table of unsound food destroyed,
as special arrangments were made for its release without examination by this
Authority.
Mutton and Lamb.—The total quantity disposed of was 13 tons 7 cwts.
1 qr. 4 lbs.
Pork.—A careful examination was made of a percentage of all consignments
of pig carcases landed within the Port, and resulted in a detailed examination of
3,575 carcases, of which 7, equalling .19 per cent., were found to be affected with
Tuberculosis. No grossly intected carcases were found.
Veal.—2 tons 8 cwts. 1 qr. 22 lbs. were destroyed during the year.