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
Hackney 1960
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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78
The requirements of subsection 3 of section 109 of the Food and Drugs Act,
1955, will not apply as respect any proceedings instituted by a council for an
offence against the regulationa
The provisions relating to baby feeding and coronary disease have been
recommended or endorsed by the Committee on Medical and Nutritional Aspects of
Food Policy.
SECTION 8 (Punishment for sale, etc. of food unfit for human consumption). This
section provides that any person who sells or offers or exposes for sale, or
has in his possession for the purpose of sale any food intended for, but unfit
for.- human consumption, shall be guilty of an offence. Two prosecutions were
taken as follows:-
Fine Costs
£ s. d. £ s. d
Sold chestnuts unfit for human Withdrawn without costs
consumption in that they were in
a mouldy and shrunken condition.
Sold a packet of pies which were Absolute discharge 2 0 0
unfit for human consumption in granted on payment
that they were in a mouldy con- of costs.
dition,
SECTION 9 (Examination and seizure of suspected food). An authorised officer
of a council may at all reasonable times examine any food intended for human
consumption which has been sold, or is offered or exposed for sale, or is in
possession of, or has been deposited with or consigned to, any person for the
purpose of sale, or of preparation for sale, and if it appears to him to be
unfit for human consumption may seize it and remove it in order to have it
dealt with by a justice of the peace.
No formal action was necessary, but the following is the list of foods which were
| Tons | Cwts. | Qrs. | Lbs. | Oz. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bacon | 1 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 5 |
| Butter, lard and margarine | - | - | - | 10 | 4 |
| Cereals | - | - | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| Cheese | - | - | 2 | 12 | 2 |
| Fish | - | 4 | 2 | 24 | 15 |
| Flour | - | - | - | 7 | - |
| Fruit and Vegetables | 5 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Jam and Marmalade | - | - | 3 | 8 | 10 |
| Tinned Meat, Poultry and Game | 1 | - | - | 23 | 7 |
| Carcase Meat, Poultry and Game | 1 | - | - | 2 | 12 |
| Milk (Evaporated and Condensed) | - | 1 | - | 25 | 8 |
| Pickles and Sauces | - | 1 | 1 | 20 | 12 |
| Sugar | - | - | - | 7 | - |
| Tea and Coffee | - | - | - | 13 | 4 |
| Miscellaneous | 1 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 4 |
| Total weight | 10 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 15 |
DISPOSAL OF UNSOUND FOOD. Tins of unsound meat as well as carcase meat were
disposed of in the incinerator at the Millfields Disinfecting Station. Tins
of other types of unsound food were, after puncturing, taken to the Council's
wharf for shipment to a controlled tip.
SECTION 13 (Regulations as to Food Hygiene).
(a) The Food Hygiene Regulations, 1955, The following notices were served: