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 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Penge]
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21
Milk Sampling
Samples of milk submitted to chemical analysis totalled 54, and all proved
to be genuine. The samples gave the following averages:—
Fat—3.56% (standard 3.0%)
Solids not fat—8.55% (standard 8.5%)
Thirty-two samples of pasteurised milk and 20 samples of tuberculin tested
(pasteurised) milk were submitted to the Phosphatase and Methylene Blue tests
and all satisfied the tests.
Fourteen samples of sterilised milk were examined and satisfied the turbidity
test.
Ice-Cream
There are no manufacturers in the district, but 86 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.
Thirty-seven samples of ice-cream were taken and submitted to the
Methylene Blue test with the following results:—
Grade 1—21; Grade 2—15; Grade IV—1.
In no case was ice-cream found to be stored at a temperature exceeding
28° Fahrenheit.
Slaughterhouses
There are no slaughterhouses in the district.
Adulteration
The Kent County Sampling Officers took 107 samples of various foods
and drugs in this district.
Included in the total were 30 samples of milk, 18 of drugs and 10 of spirits.
All the samples were genuine with the exception of the following:—
| SAMPLE OF | ANALYSIS | ACTION TAKEN |
|---|---|---|
| Strawberry Jam | Fruit 33.0%. Soluble solids 71.5%. Sulphite absent. Minimum fruit content should be 38.0%. | Manufacturers notified. Further samples satisfactory. |
| Cold and Influenza Mixture | Anhydrous Morphine 0.0039 w/v. (Label—0.0094 w/v). Possibly due to decomposition. | Later sample taken from new mixing. Analysis not completed. |
| Ice-Cream Powder | Methyl Ethyl Cellulose present and should be so designated. Not " Vegetable Stabilisers." Fat 25.4% (including Glyc. Monostearate). Non-fatty Milk solids 32.7%. Sucrose 41.0%. | Manufacturers notified. Formula amended. |
Your Inspectors obtained 54 informal samples of milk, the Analyst reporting
all samples to be genuine.