Medical Officer's annual report [to] Durban Corporation.

  • Durban (South Africa). Public Health Department.
Date:
[1976]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical Officer's annual report [to] Durban Corporation. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    88/182 (page 76)
    The department continued its programme of sampling crayfish and molluscs along the local foreshore to monitor for faecal contamination. Some years ago the department requested the Natal Parks, Game and Fish Preservation Board to continue with a public ban on the collection of Crustacea and molluscs on the foreshore between the Umgeni and Isipingo Rivers until conditions were considered safe. During the year, 19 marine samples were taken of wnich 8 yielded unsatisfactory bacteriological results. Food Complaints Complaints by members of the public included rope infection in kuhne bread; jnouldy and rodent- gnawed bread; cockroaches, a sponge, split-pin, and a piece of ceramic tile baked into loaves of bread; a cockroach in a bottle of peanut butter and in a curry roll; a fly embedded in a piece of cheese and in a sausage roll; a piece of biltong infested with beetle larvae; a cockroach egg in a mineral water bottle; and other foreign objects in other bottles; hair embedded in the crust of a sandwich; tin embedded in a sausage roll; a fish nook embedded in a piece of cooked fish; a cigarette end in a packet of pre-wrapped meat; and a metal washer in a piece of pie. Several complaints of weavil-infested cereals and unsound and/or outdated foodstuffs also received attention. Appropriate action was taken in all instances including prosecution of offenders when the complaint was substantiated by affidavit and the occurrence was considered to be due to negligence. Following a report from a large private hospital of suspected food poisoning amongst their African staff, investigations disclosed that the situation had probably oeen caused by the affected personnel consuming left over curried chicken. The management was advised accordingly. Public Gatherings Health Inspectors were in attendance at all large scale public functions including race meetings, cricket and rugby international and provincial games, religious gatherings, festivals, etc. to ensure the maintenance of satisfactory food and general hygiene standards. During holiday seasons and long weekends when the beaches were heavily patronised, inspectors were on duty to encourage optimum hygienic practices by beach¬ front caterers.