View report page

306
1910]
INFORMAL SAMPLING OF FOODS IN ISLINGTON FOR THE
DETECTION OF ADULTERATION DURING 1910.
The private sampling of foods is now a most important part of the work
of your Inspector appointed under the Adulteration Acts, and, therefore, the
Medical Officer of Health has thought it his duty to report on the result
of his operations during the year, and to give you a synopsis of his work during
the two preceding years.
During 1910 the Inspector obtained and qualitatively examined 633
samples, of which 436 were genuine, while 81 had been sold either with a
verbal declaration or with an imprint on the wrapper, and 73, or 11.5 per cent.,
were adulterated as compared with 18.7 per cent. in 1909, and 13.8 per cent.
in 1908.
Milk.— He examined 203 samples of milk, for the most part obtained
from shops, because it is impossible when it is purchased from roundsmen to
examine a privately purchased sample and also to obtain an official sample of
the same milk during the same round. Of these 205 samples, he found that 15, or
7.3 per cent., were adulterated. These 15, however, do not include milks which
had been adulterated to a less extent than 5 per cent.
An examination of his returns for 1908 and 1909 shows that in 1908 there
were 4 out of 130 samples adulterated, or 3.0 per cent.; and that in 1909 there
were 12 out of 98, or 12.2 per cent., adulterated.
Butter.— He examined 47 samples of butter, of which only 4 were
adulterated, or 8.5 per cent. These figures are in strong contrast with those
of the two preceding years, for in 1908 out of 155 samples he found that 24, or
15.5 per cent. ; and in 1909, out of 92 samples, that 19, or 20.7 per cent., were
adulterated.
There has, therefore, been a marked decrease in the adulteration of butter,
which really means that less margarine has been sold for it than formerly.
Margarine. — Your Inspector also turned his attention to the sale of
margarine in unstamped wrappers, and discovered 36 samples out of 221 that
were sold in contravention of the Margarine Act, so that 16.3 per cent. were
so sold.
Demerara Sugar.—This article was sampled in 36 instances, with the
result that in 3 cases, or 8.3 per cent., it was found that dyed sugar had been