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 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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61
to trade in food are referred to this department, and other than fruit and/or
vegetables and wet and shell fish licences are not recommended unless the foods
are sold "pre packed" Frequent inspections of all stalls are made and
storage accommodation is also inspected at the time of the initial application
and later on as necessary.
The position in regard to street traders licensed to engage in the sale of food commodities at December 31st was as follows:-
| Foodstuffs sold | Place of Trading | Total number of stalls | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ridley Road | Chatsworth Road | Well Street | Kingsl and Road | Broadway | Garnhan Street | Louriston Road | Bradbury Street | Other sites | ||
| Fruit and Vegetables | 54 | 29 | 17 | 6 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 134 | |
| Pish (Wet, dry and shell) | 8 | 7 | 4 | - | 4 | - | 1 | - | 2 | 26 |
| Fish and Poultry | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | 2 |
| Meat and Poultry | 9 | 2 | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | 1 | - | 16 |
| Grocery and Provisions | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | - | - | - | - | 21 |
| Sweets and Ice- Cream | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | - | 1 | - | 1 | 10 |
| Soft Drinks | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Cakes and Biscuits | 1 | 2 | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 4 |
| Refreshments (Coffee stalls) | 1 | - | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 5 |
| Apple Fritters | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Eggs | 1 | 3 | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 5 |
| Totals | 82 | 51 | 28 | 14 | 31 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 225 |
SECTION 2 (General protection for purchasers of food and drugs). This
section provides that a person selling to the prejudice of the purchaser any
food or drug which is not of the nature, or not of the substance, or not of the
quality demanded by the purchaser, shall be guilty of an offence.
In ten cases legal proceedings were taken under this section:-
| Fines | Costs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | s. | d | £ | s. | d | |
| Selling a packet of "Slenderbix" not of the quality demanded in that it was infested with insects. | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Selling a packet of "Slenderbix" not of the quality demanded in that it was infested with insects. | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Selling buttered rolls not of the quality demanded in that they were deficient in butter. | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Selling buttered rolls not of the quality demanded in that they were deficient in butter. | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Selling "Buttermints" not of the quality demanded in that they were deficient in butter. | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Selling a loaf of bread not of the substance demanded in that it contained a matchstick. | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Absolute discharge granted on payment of costs | ||||||
| Selling a loaf of bread not of the nature demanded in that it contained a piece of string. | * | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Selling apple turnovers not of the quality demanded in that their condition was mouldy. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |