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
Orpington 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Orpington]
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| Sample. | Analyst's Report. | Action Taken. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (b) | Buttermint Toffees (Informal) | Inferior. Deficient in butter. Fat 2.1% should be 4%. | This case was fully investigated with the Manufacturers—an old and reputable firm—the conclusion being that only half the quantity of butter allocated for a particular "boiling" was added. The Company gave an assurance that there would be closer supervision in the future. |
| (c) | Portion of Sliced Bread Loaf (Informal) | Inferior. Foreign matter present. | Warning given to baker concerned. |
| (d) | Butter Brazils (Informal) | Adulterated. Coating contained 2.0% fat (including 0.6% butter-fat). Butter fat should have been at least 4%. | The Manufacturers apologised for the "inadvertent" offence. They explained that they had only recently commenced the manufacture of buttered sweets. Their attention had been drawn to the regulations and they had accordingly changed their labels to read "Butter Flavoured Brazils." Samples of labels now in use were submitted. |
| (e) | Dried Milk (3) (Informal) | Inferior. Old stock. Not harmful but unsuitable for use in school canteen. | These samples were submitted by the Schools Canteen Supervisor. The stocks were withdrawn. |
| (f) | Pasteurised Milk (4) (Informal) | Adulterated. Extraneous water varied between 4% and 5%. | Dairyman given strict warning. Addition of water believed to be due to negligence rather than deliberate intent. |
| Pasteurised Milk | Inferior. Deficiency of •3.3% in the minimum amount of milk fat. | Strict warning given. | |
| Sterilised Milk (Informal) | Inferior. Deficiency of 5% in minimum amount of fat. | Milk Company at loss to explain the deficiency. A "follow-up" sample proved to be genuine. | |
| (g) | Condensed Full Cream Milk (Informal) | Pronounced rancid taste. Unfit for use. | This tin of milk was submitted by a local grocer, following complaints from customers. The remainder of the stock was condemned. |
| (h) | (1) Pork Sausages (Informal) | Inferior. Meat 60% Sulphite absent. | Meat content should have been 65%. The butcher was warned and given advice on the proper mixing of ingredients, |