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
Penge 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Penge]
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21
Milk Sampling
Samples of milk submitted to chemical analysis totalled 48, and all proved
to be genuine. The samples gave the following averages:—
Fat—3.58% (standard 3.0%).
Solids-not-fat—8.75% (standard 8.5%)
Twenty-six samples of pasteurised milk and sixteen samples of tuberculin
tested (pasteurised) milk were submitted to the Phosphase and Methylene Blue
tests and all satisfied the tests.
Eight samples of sterilised milk were examined and satisfied the Turbidity
Test.
Ice-Cream
There are no manufacturers in the district, but 81 premises are registered
for the sale of ice-cream, the shopkeepers obtaining their supplies from wellknown
manufacturers. In the great majority of cases the ice-cream is delivered
to the premises and sold in cartons or wrapped.
Twenty-four samples of ice-cream were taken and submitted to the
methylene blue test with the following results:—
Grade 1—19; Grade 2—3; Grade 3—2
In no case was ice cream found to be stored at a temperature exceeding 28°
Farenheit.
Slaughterhouses
No animals were slaughtered in the district.
Adulteration
The Kent County Sampling Officers took 116 samples of various foods and
drugs in this district.
Included in the total were 36 samples of milk, 18 of drugs, and 10 of spirits. All the samples were genuine with the exception of the following:—
| ARTICLE | ANALYSIS | ACTION TAKEN |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Milk | 20% deficient in fat | Written caution issued. |
| "Canadian" Ice Cream. | Fat 11.6% including no material amount of butter fat. Total solids 40.3%. Sucrose 15.1%. Non-fatty milk solids 13.5%. Starch present. "Canadian" Ice Cream contains 10% butter fat at least. | Caution issued. Description "Canadian" to be discontinued. |
| Cake containing butter. | Fat 12.1% (butter 4.4%). Half fat should be butter to justify description. | Makers notified. |
Your inspectors obtained 48 informal samples of milk, the Analyst reporting
all samples to be genuine.