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In the one small notified outbreak involving two members of a family
(husband and wife) cooked bacon was suspected as the source of infection
None of the suspected food was available but on bacteriological examination of
bacon bones in the shop where the purchase had been made, staphylococcus aureus
was isolated No organism was isolated from faecal specimens of the affected
couple but the symptoms and duration of their illness corresponded with food
poisoning associated with infection by staphylococcus aureus toxin.
Apart from notified cases, the department became aware of three outbreaks
of food poisoning at one factory canteen. The numbers of persons involved
were:-
January 41 (15 being bacteriologically confirmed)
March 6(2" " " )
October 19 ( 5 " " " )
In all three outbreaks the causative organism was found to be Cl.Welchii
occurring in reheated pre-cooked food This type of food poisoning is all too
common and, despite repeated warnings the practice of cooking meat on the
previous day, not cooling adequately and reheating on the day of consumption is
carried out in many canteens - this procedure so often results in outbreaks of
food poisoning.
SECTION 27 (Inspection and control of infected food). If the Medical Officer
of Health of a district has reasonable ground for suspecting that any food of
which he, or any other officer of the local authority of the district, has
procured a sample under the provisions of this Act is likely to cause food
poisoning, he may give notice to the person in charge of the food that, until
his investigations are completed the food. or any specified portion thereof,
is not to be used for human consumption, and either is not to be removed, or is
not to be removed except to some place specified in the notice No action was
necessary under this section
SECTION 29 (Milk and Dairies Regulations)
(a) MILK AND DAIRIES REGULATIONS, 1949-54. These Regulations require local
authorities to keep a register of persons carrying on the trade of milk distributor
and of all dairy premises other than dairy farms in their district and make
special provisions relating to the production treatment, handling and storage
of milk At the end of the year, entries in the register were as follows:-