London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Wanstead and Woodford 1948

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wanstead and Woodford]

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"The sample possessed a slight but definite taste of disinfectant
or paraffin nature.
No abnormal smell was observed however with this sample in
either a cold or hot condition. Moreover, chemical analysis for tar
acid disinfectants yields only insignificant traces.
Whilst therefore this sample was objectionable on account of the
taste I am unable to say that the taint was sufficient to be of a harmful
nature."

The following is a list of the food samples during the year, together with the number of samples of each kind obtained:—

Bacon8Lemonade powder2
Gutter11Luncheon sausage1
Parley, ground2Macaroni2
Parley flakes1Margarine11
Cereal food1Milk8
Cheese11Oats, rolled1
Cooking fat11Oatmeal1
Crispbread1Pudding mixture3
Coffee2Sponge mixture2
Dates1Semolina2
Dessert mould1Sugar11
Flour4Sausages3
Glace cherries1Sausage meat1
Jellies3Tea7
Jam1Vermicelli1

Surrendered Foods

FISH (Fresh)

Crab2 tins
Cod9½ stoneRockfish1 tin
Haddock11½ stoneCodfish1 tin
Kippers19½ stoneSardines2 tins
Cod liver roes8 tins
Conger6 stoneSilver hake1 tin
Whiting1 stoneHerring roes3 tins
Catfish6 stoneHerring tidbits3 tins
Dogfish6½ stoneHerring fillets15 jars
Skate19½ stoneFish (marinated)60 jars
FISH (Tinned)Fish cakes
Herrings1 tinFRUIT (Fresh)
Herrings (kippered) Salmon6 tinsApples3 boxes
6 tinsOranges1 case
Capefish1 tin
Pilchards12 tinsFRUIT (dried)
Cravfish1 tinDates
Crawfish1 tinFigs18 lbs.