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 1963
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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33
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD
AND FOOD PREMISES
FOOD AND DRUGS ACT, 1955
FOOD COMPLAINTS from residents who felt that they had been sold food which
was unfit for human consumption totalled 75. A full investigation was made
of all these complaints and the vendors of the food in question were informed
and invited to submit written explanations. In 38 cases the complaints could
not be substantiated and no legal action was taken; warning letters were sent
to vendors in 26 cases and legal proceedings were authorised in 11 cases.
Departmental records contain details of the 1, 465 premises in the borough where the following food trades were carried on:-
| Aerated water manufacture | 1 |
| Bakehouses (Registered) | 1 |
| Bakehouses | 30 |
| Bakehouses (Basement) | 7 |
| Bakers5 Shops (Sales only) | 40 |
| Bakers sundries manufacture | 1 |
| Beer bottlers | 1 |
| Beer and Wines "Off" sales at Grocers' shops | 6 |
| Butchers Registered) | 87 |
| Butchers | 44 |
| Cake decoration manufacture | 1 |
| Canned Soup manufacture | 1 |
| Cheese manufacture | 1 |
| Confectionery (sweet shops) | 350 |
| Concentrated food manufacture | 1 |
| Fish curing | 16 |
| Fish (wet) | 29 |
| Fish (fried) | 19 |
| Food vending machines | 3 |
| Food Importers | 3 |
| Fruit Drink manufacture | 1 |
| Greengrocery | 136 |
| Grocery and Provisions | 325 |
| Grocery and Provisions (Registered) | 26 |
| Ice cream manufacture and sale | 451 |
| Jam manufacture | 1 |
| Jellied Eels and Pie manufacture and sale | 5 |
| Milk distributor | 214 |
| Non Brewed Condiment and Vinegar manufacture | 1 |
| Public Houses and Off Licences | 241 |
| Pickle manufacture | 2 |
| Restaurants and Cafes | 186 |
| Sugar Grinding | 1 |
| Sweet manufacture | 3 |
| Wholesale Food Storage | 15 |
| Wine Bottler | - |
| 2,250 |
STREET TRADING IN FOOD The majority of street traders operate from approved
pitches and are licensed by the Borough Council under Section 21 of the London
County Council (General Powers) Act, 1947. All new applications for licences
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.
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:-