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 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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The average composition of the 402 samples of milk reported as genuine, proved to be as under: —
| Total milk solids | 12.38 per cent. |
| Milk fat | 3.55 |
| Non-fatty solids | 8.83 |
The Analyst reports that the content of milk fat in these 402 samples ranged as follows:—
| 4 per cent, and over | 26 samples or | 6.5 per cent. |
| Between 3.9 and 4.0 per cent. | 15 „ „ | 3.7 „ „ |
| „ 3.8 „ 3.9 „ | 27 „ „ | 6.7 „ „ |
| „ 3.7 „ 3.8 „ | 40 „ „ | 9.9 „ „ |
| „ 3.6 „ 3.7 „ | 65 „ „ | 16.1 „ „ |
| „ 3.5 „ 3.6 „ | 48 „ „ | 11.9 „ „ |
| „ 3.4 „ 3.5 „ | 71 „ „ | 17.7 „ „ |
| „ 3.3 „ 3-4 „ | 75 „ „ | 18.7 „ „ |
| „ 3.2 „ 3.3 „ | 24 „ „ | 6.0 „ „ |
| „ 3.1 „ 3.2 „ | 8 „ „ | 2.0 „ „ |
| „ 3.0 „ 3.1 „ | 3 „ „ | 0.8 „ „ |
| 402 | 100.0 |
The following action was taken in regard to the 4 formal samples
certified as adulterated:—
(1) Salad Cream. Containing 600 parts per million of benzoic
acid as a preservative, contrary to the Public Health
(Preservatives in Food) Regulations. This product appeared,
from the label, to have been imported from Holland. In the
course of enquiries, it was learned that the presence of the
preservative had already been brought to the notice of the
Ministry of Food, and that steps were being taken to stop
the importation of any further supplies. The Health Committee
thereupon decided to take no action. The whole of the
stock remaining in the hands of the retailer from whom the
sample was obtained was returned to the wholesaler.
(2) "Mince." This substance appeared to have been sold as a
substitute for mincemeat, which it closely resembled. There is
a standard for mincemeat set up by the Food Standards
(Preserves) Order, 1944, to which the "mince" did not
conform. The Council's Solicitor, however, advised that a
prosecution was unlikely to be successful, particularly as no
"points" had been given up. In view of this, and that the
manufacturer had ceased business, the Health Committee
decided to take no action. The facts of the case were, however,
communicated to the Ministry of Food.
(3) Non-brewed Vinegar. Certified to contain only 1.56 per cent.
of acetic acid, instead of the usually accepted minimum of
4 per cent. Summonses were issued, but before they came
before the Court it was learned that adverse decisions on