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 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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hawkers were on the register (greengrocery 20, fish 6, ice-cream 4) and 45 inspections
of their vehicles and wares were carried out.
MUNICIPAL RESTAURANTS AND SCHOOL CANTEENS. There is no municipal restaurant
in the Borough, but during the year the 20 school canteens provided 1,327,264 meals.
By the provision of new schools and the replacement of school canteens established
during the war, the facilities for meals at schools are being improved.
FOOD AND DRUGS SAMPLING. The following information on the work done in the Borough during 1959 has been supplied by the Public Control Department of Middlesex County Council:-
| Article | Total Samples Procured | Unsatisfactory |
|---|---|---|
| Milk (new) | 87 | 56 |
| Milk (various) | 84 | - |
| Cakes and biscuits | 5 | - |
| Cooked meat | 10 | - |
| Coffee | 5 | - |
| Cream | 20 | - |
| Drugs | 11 | - |
| Fish and Fish Products | 25 | 1 |
| Fruit - Fresh, Canned Dried | 19 | 2 |
| Glace Cherries | 5 | - |
| Ice-Cream | 34 | - |
| Jelly | 4 | - |
| Liver | 4 | - |
| Meat and Meat Products | 32 | - |
| Preserves | 9 | - |
| Sausages | 7 | - |
| Spirits | 6 | - |
| Sweets | 6 | - |
| Vinegar | 19 | - |
| Miscellaneous | 25 | - |
| Total | 417 | 59 |
MILK. Three consignments of new milk were delivered from a dairy farmer to
a milk processing depot in your district and when sampled many of the churns contained
milk which was slightly deficient both in milk fat and solids-not-fat. There was no
evidence of added water. Another supplier delivered two consignments of which some
churns contained milk deficient in solids-not-fat. Again this appeared to be due to
seasonal diet deficiencies in the herd concerned, and subsequent sampling disclosed
improved quality.
FISH. An official caution was issued in the case of a retailer who displayed
witches as lemon soles. The shop manager was prosecuted as the person responsible
and fined £5 and 2 guineas costs.
FRUIT. Two retailers were prosecuted for labelling and selling giant prune
variety plums as Victoria plums. Each retailer was fined £2 on each of two summonses
and 2 guineas costs.
MERCHANDISE MARKS ACTS, 1887 - 1953. The majority of the inspection work
carried out under the provisions of the above Acts relate to ensuring that the
requirements of the various Marking Orders made under the provisions of the Act of
1926, and which relate to the marking with an indication of origin on certain imported
foodstuffs when exposed for sale or sold, are complied with. Inspections were
made at 278 different premises and 1,474 displays consisting of meat, apples, tomatoes,
poultry, dried fruit, butter and bacon, were examined. Any infringements detected
were of a minor nature, and were dealt with by verbal warnings. Two prosecutions were
undertaken under the main Act in relation to the display of extra small eggs under
the description 'small'. Fines of £2 and costs of 5 guineas were imposed in each
case.
LABELLING OF FOOD ORDER. 1953. This Order requires pre-packed food to be
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