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

Heston and Isleworth 1946

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]

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INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD

Table: MILK.—The following inspections have been made of cowsheds, dairies and retail purveyors' premises:—

MILK.—The following inspections have been made of cowsheds, dairies and retail purveyors' premises:—

19395761943241
1940187194495
1941481945136
19421721946146

Table: Under the Milk (Special Designations) Orders, licences were issued as follows:—

Under the Milk (Special Designations) Orders, licences were issued as follows:—

19391940194119421943194419451946
Sale of "accredited" milk221111——
Sale of "tuberculin-tested" milk1825242523182018
Sale of "pasteurised" milk3640333329232624
Pasteurising plant11111111

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Samples of milk have been taken at intervals for bacteriological examination and to test the efficiency of
the pasteurising. Complaints of milk being supplied in dirty bottles was less frequent in 1946 as
compared with the three previous years. While the importance of clean methods of milk production,
handling and retailing is continuously brought to the notice of those engaged in the trade, too many
members of the public fail to apply the most elementary rules of hygiene in regard to milk bottles.
Such bottles should be rinsed as soon as they are emptied and should not be used for other purposes. In
1943 two convictions were obtained against retailers for selling milk in bottles containing extraneous
matter.

Table: ICE CREAM.—A register is kept of all premises used for the manufacture or sale of ice cream and the following inspections of premises, vehicles, barrows, etc., have been carried out:—

ICE CREAM.—A register is kept of all premises used for the manufacture or sale of ice cream and the following inspections of premises, vehicles, barrows, etc., have been carried out:—

193953419435
19409319441
1941121945153
1942301946301

Table: BAKEHOUSES.—Regular inspections of bakehouses have been made as under:—

BAKEHOUSES.—Regular inspections of bakehouses have been made as under:—

19391981943196
1940621944104
194121945112
1942521946163

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SLAUGHTER-HOUSES.—There is no public abattoir in the Borough and the eight private
slaughter-houses were closed soon after the outbreak of war when the Government introduced centralised
slaughtering as a war emergency measure. In 1939 the Sanitary Inspectors paid 382 visits to slaughterhouses
to inspect meat during and after slaughter. There is one licensed knacker's yard in the Borough
and the humane killer is used on all animals slaughtered there.

Table: INSPECTION OF MEAT AND OTHER FOODS.—Premises where food is prepared or sold are submitted to frequent inspection in regard to the premises and the food. The numbers of such inspections are shown below:—

INSPECTION OF MEAT AND OTHER FOODS.—Premises where food is prepared or sold are submitted to frequent inspection in regard to the premises and the food. The numbers of such inspections are shown below:—

19391940194119421943194419451946
Meat1,009427175293824246162192
Fish19410552101225834893
Provisions801991264141,161909508340
Greengrocery and fruit1581487314966528510151
Hawkers' foodstuffs115272416012049136
Other foods43304161253114473532
Food preparation premises49819430110912535587852

Table: The following quantities of unsound food were seized by or surrendered to the Sanitary Inspectors who arranged for the food to be destroyed or used for animal feeding. Close contact was maintained with the Salvage Officers of the Ministry of Food on this matter:—

The following quantities of unsound food were seized by or surrendered to the Sanitary Inspectors who arranged for the food to be destroyed or used for animal feeding. Close contact was maintained with the Salvage Officers of the Ministry of Food on this matter:—

19391940194119421943194419451946
Unsound food (lbs)3,7644,6137,1277,4623,6032,6042,3139,957
Unsound tinned food (tins)——1,1645,8555,7574,3877,1315,123

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The above unsound food was obtained from retail premises in the Borough. On request, inspections
were made of bulk food stores held by the Ministry of Food, War Office, N.A.A.F.I., etc., and as a
result of these inspections quantities of food were condemned as unfit for human consumption.
During these years seven firms were prosecuted for selling or exposing for sale food which was
unfit for human consumption.
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