London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of London 1910
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
This page requires JavaScript
Besides boric preparations, it is well known that other and even more objectionable drugs are sometimes employed; and with a view to ascertaining to what extent such are used by manufacturers of the largely advertised preservative mediums supplied to sausage makers, &c., fifteen samples were taken and submitted to the Public Analyst, who reported thereon as follows:—
| No. ofSample. | Description of Article. | Result of Analysis. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 503 | Biscuit Powder for Sausage Making | Torrefied Wheat Flour. | |
| 504 | Sausage Seasoning | Salt | 64.1 per cent. |
| Spices | 31.6 „ | ||
| Water | 4.3 „ | ||
| 505 | Preservative | Borax (calculated as dry) | 22.13 per cent. |
| Boric Acid | 76.88 „ | ||
| Undetermined | 0.99 „ | ||
| 506 | Meat Preservative | Borax (calculated as dry) | 37.13 per cent. |
| Boric Acid | 60.41 „ | ||
| Undetermined | 2.46 „ | ||
| 507 | Beef Seasoning | Common Salt | 55.1 per cent. |
| Spices | 39.2 „ | ||
| Moisture | 5.7 „ | ||
| 508 | Sausage Filling | Cooked Starch, probably Maize. Preservative absent. | |
It will be seen from the foregoing that the preservatives used in 505, 506,
511, 515 and 515a, are all nothing more nor less than simple mixtures in
varying proportions of borax and boric acid, the average proportions in these
samples being 24.82 and 73.79 respectively.
In view of the claims made by the manufacturers of these samples, and in
order to show to what extent these claims are supported, and how the
retailer is frequently imposed upon, it is necessary that I should here quote
extracts from the advertisements, and will proceed with these seriatim.
Sample 503.— This is advertised as a "biscuit powder for sausage
"making," and is reported to consist of torrefied Wheat Flour. No
preservative was present.
Sample 504.— "Sausage seasoning." This is merely a mixture of
salt and spices, and contains no preservative.