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
Wandsworth 1923
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]
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96 Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
As a popular idea prevails that a great deal of the milk sold
in the London streets contains a preservative, it cannot be too
strongly emphasised that every sample submitted was tested for
the presence of preservatives, with negative results in all cases.
Another point which arrests the attention is the fact that
only one sample of Butter, out of a total of 298 examined, was
found to be adulterated with Margarine, whilst 3 only, or a trifle
over one per cent., contained over the maximum permissible
quantity of Boron preservative.
When we compare the above statement with the reports
submitted to your Council a few years ago it leaves no ground for
argument as to the efficacy of the use of the informal sampling
then adopted by the Inspector by permission of the existing
Public Health Committee.
The nature and extent of the adulteration of the 50 formal samples adversely reported upon will be found in the following tables. MILK.
| Case No. | Nature and Extent of Adulteration. |
|---|---|
| 17 | 1 per cent extraneous water |
| 42 | 5 per cent extraneous water |
| 55 | Coloured with Annatto |
| 56 | 18 per cent. extraneous water |
| 63 | 2 per cent. extraneous water |
| 92 | 25½ per cent. extraneous water |
| 1ll | 27 per cent. milk fat deficient |
| 148 | 9 per cent. extraneous water |
| 163 | 10 per cent. milk fat deficient |
| 236 | 11 per cent. milk fat deficient |
| 250 | 3 per cent. extraneous water |
| 306 | 17 per cent. milk fat deficient |
| 345 | 3 per cent. milk fat deficient |
| 391 | 21 per cent. milk fat deficient |
| 392 | 9 per cent. milk fat deficient |
| 449 | Coloured with Annatto |
| 463 | 3 per cent. milk fat deficient |
| 475 | 3 per cent. milk fat deficient |
| 479 | 14 per cent. milk fat deficient |
| 489 | Coloured with Annatto |
| 501 | Coloured with Annatto |
| 503 | Coloured with Annatto |
| 542 | 4 per cent milk fat deficient |
| 571 | 5 per cent. milk fat deficient |
| 577 | 1 per cent. extraneous water |
| 603 | 11 per cent. milk fat deficient |
| 636 | 8 per cent. extraneous water |
| 665 | 8 per cent. extraneous water |
| 827 | 9 per cent. extraneous water |
| 886 | 2 per cent. milk fat deficient |
| 974 | 10 per cent. milk fat deficient |
| 977 | 10 per cent. milk fat deficient |
| 986 | 16 per cent. milk fat deficient |