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

City of London 1961

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]

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Table: FOOD AND DRUGS ACT, 1955, AND FOOD REGULATIONS Informal and Formal Samples submitted for Analysis

FOOD AND DRUGS ACT, 1955, AND FOOD REGULATIONS Informal and Formal Samples submitted for Analysis

ArticleInformalFormalArticleInformalFormal
Bacon7-Brought forward1454
Beer1-Margarine12-
Brandy-1Marmalade5-
Butter10-Meat & Meat Products .20-
Cake Mixture1-Medicines16-
Cakes & Pastries3-Milk727
Calf's Foot Jelly1-Milk, tinned3-
Cheese15-Mincemeat1-
Chicken Soup Cubes1-Noodles1-
Chicken, tinned3-Olives, bottled1-
Chop Suey, tinned1-Pastry Mixture3-
Cocktail Cherries2-Pate Truffle1-
Cocktail Onions1-Peel, mixed1-
Pickles & Sauces4-
Cocoa1-Pies7-
Coffee5-Puddings2-
Confectionery1-Puddings, tinned2-
Cooking Fat11-Ravioli1-
Cooking Oil3-Rice, tinned1-
Cream, tinned6-Rum1-
Curry Powder1-Saccharin Tablets2-
Fish, tinned12-Sausages25-
Frogs Legs, tinned1-Soup, tinned2-
Frozen Foods9-Spices4-
Fruit, Dried12-Suet1-
Fruit, fresh8-Sugar5-
Fruit Juice12-Tea11-
Fruit, tinned6-Vegetables, dried3-
Gin-3Vegetables, tinned11-
Honey1-Vinegar9-
Ice Cream Powder1-Whisky-4
Jam8-Wines8-
Lolly Mix1-Yoghourt2-
Carried forward1454TOTAL31735

Table: ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION REGARDING ADULTERATION OR OTHER IRREGULARITY

ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION REGARDING ADULTERATION OR OTHER IRREGULARITY

ArticleInformal or Formal SampleNature of adulteration or irregularityAction
Apple JuiceCannedVitaminizedInformalIncorrectly labelled.The labelling has been taken up with the wholesaler and the stocks have been withdrawn from sale.
Bread Loaf Sliced WhiteInformalDiscoloured by brown streaks which penetrated through-out the loaf.This was due to the change over from a run of brown loaves in the moulding machine to a run of white bread. The matter was taken up with the manufacturer but no further official action taken.
Bread Roll Portion ofInformalContained a small quantity of black foreign matter, consisting of a mixture of fat, dust and charred flour, which had been baked in the roll.This "sample" was a complaint from a member of the public of mice dirt. Although no evidence of rodent contamination was found the baker's attention was drawn nevertheless to the general debris found in this sample.
Coconut IceInformalThe sample was mouldy and rancid.This coconut ice was old stock. It was withdrawn immediately.
Glace CherriesInformalContained Sulphur dioxide, 100 parts per million, the presence of which was not disclosed on the label.The cartons will have the presence of Sulphur dioxide indicated thereon at the time of the next printing.
Lolly mixInformalIncorrectly labelled.Discussions are in progress with the distributors. There are differences of opinion on the wording of the label.
Milk (Hot)FormalContained Fat, 3.24 per cent; Solids-not-fat, 7.71 per cent, corresponding to the presence of nine per cent of added water.Warning letter sent to vendor. He has since discontinued the sale of hot milk.