London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hackney 1952

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]

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45
(b) Public Health (Imported Food) Regulations, 1937-1948. These Regulations
deal with the quality of imported foodstuffs and give the Medical Officer
of Health authority to examine any article of food before or after it has been
landed.. They also prohibit the importation of meat not accompanied by an
"official certificate".
SECTION 9, Penalty for sale, &c. of unsound food. This section provides
that a person who sells, offers, exposes for sale, or has in his possession
for the purpose of sale or of preparation for sale, or deposits with, or consigns
to, any person for the purpose of sale or of preparation for sale, any
food intended for, but unfit for, human consumption shall be guilty of an
offence*

Legal proceedings under this section were taken in respect of unsound food at one premises, one summons against the Company for being in possession of the unsound food, and another against a servant of the Company for exposing such unsound food. Details are as follows:-

OffenceResult of proceedings
Did have in possession for the purpose of sale two pieces of diseased horse liver, intended for, but unfit for, human consumptionPined £5 and £3 3s. 0d, costs.
Did expose for sale two pieces of diseased horse liver, intended for, but unfit for, human consumption.Fined £2 and £1 costs.

SECTION 10. Examination of food and seizure of unsound food. This section
enables an authorised officer of a local authority at all reasonable
times to examine any food intended for human consumption which has been sold,
or is offered or exposed for sale or is in the possession of, or has been deposited
with, or consigned to any person for the purpose of sale, and if it
appears to be unfit for human consumption he may seize it and remove it in
order to have it dealt with by a Justice of the Peace,

Pour pounds of diseased horse liver intended for human consumption were seized and taken before a magistrate for condemnation; this is the case referred to under Section 9. The bulk of unfit food was, however, voluntarily surrendered and the total weights of food condemned or surrendered were:-

TonsCwts.Qtrs.Lbs.
Bread, cakes and pastries-2-18¼
Butter, lard and margarine--122
Cereals---10
Cheese and cheese spread-1--
Cooked ham (tinned)12219
Eggs and dried egg powder-1
Pish16127
Fruit and Vegetables1114217½
Jam, Marmalade and conserves.-1111½
Meat, poultry and game (carcase)118220
Meat, poultry and game (tinned).215-27½
Milk (evaporated and condensed).-9-16
Pickles and sauces--3
Tea and coffee-1»22
Miscellaneous18-15½
212116½