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
Battersea 1909
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1909
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72
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.
The object of these Acts is two-fold in character (a) to protect
the honest trader from fraudulent competition, and (b) to safeguard
the public from fraud, imposition and dangers to health in
regard to food and drugs.
During the year 1909, 1,000 samples were purchased within
the Borough of Battersea and submitted to the Public Analyst for
analysis. Of the 1,000 samples 91 (i.e., 9.1 per cent.) were reported
by the Analyst to be adulterated, and in addition 22 were reported
by him to be inferior.
The following table gives the details of the number of samples purchased during the year, and the number found to be genuine or otherwise:—
| Description of Article. | Total No. of Samples taken. | Genuine. | Adulterated. | Inferior. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrowroot | 4 | 4 | .. | .. |
| Bread | 6 | 6 | .. | .. |
| Butter | 164 | 138 | 10 | 16 |
| Cheese | 11 | 10 | 1 | .. |
| Cocoa | 17 | 15 | 1 | .. |
| Coffee | 39 | 34 | 5 | .. |
| Cream | 5 | 1 | 4 | .. |
| Gin | 2 | 2 | .. | .. |
| Lard | 5 | 5 | .. | .. |
| Margarine | 10 | 9 | 1 | .. |
| Milk | 672 | 612 | 60 | .. |
| Mustard | 5 | 4 | .. | .. |
| Oatmeal | 4 | 4 | .. | .. |
| Olive Oil | 5 | 5 | .. | .. |
| Pepper | 4 | 4 | .. | .. |
| Rum | 2 | 2 | .. | .. |
| Sausages | 15 | 8 | 7 | .. |
| Tea | 5 | 5 | ||
| Tinned Meats, &c. | 6 | 5 | 1 | .. |
| Vinegar | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 |
| Whisky | 8 | 8 | .. | .. |
| Totals | 1,000 | 887 | 91 | 22 |
The next table shows the percentage of adulteration during
the years 1900-1909:—