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
Stepney 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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Table A shows the nature of the samples taken under the Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act, and gives the numbers and percentages found to be adulterated, and the number of samples found to contain preservative.
Table A.
| Number of Samples. | Number Genuine | Number Adulterated | Percentage Adulterated | Preservative Found. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | 974 | 949 | 25 | 2.6 | None |
| Butter | 149 | 149 | — | — | None |
| Margarine | 145 | 145 | — | — | None |
| Cream | 21 | 21 | — | — | None |
| Sausage | 17 | 14 | 3 | 176 | 4 |
| Spirits | 15 | 14 | 1 | 6.7 | — |
| Coffee | 13 | 13 | — | — | — |
| Dried Fruit | 12 | 10 | 2 | 167 | 9 |
| Pepper | 11 | 11 | — | _ | — |
| Vinegar | 11 | 9 | 2 | 182 | - |
| Pearl Barley | 10 | 8 | 2 | 200 | 2 |
| Epsom Salts | 9 | 9 | — | — | — |
| Flour | 9 | 9 | — | — | None |
| Milk Sugar | 9 | 8 | 1 | 11.l | - |
| Minced Meat | 9 | 4 | 5 | 55.6 | 5 |
| Glauber's Salt | 7 | 7 | . | . | — |
| Rice | 6 | 6 | - | - | — |
| Tincture of Iodine | 6 | 6 | - | - | — |
| Purified Borax | 6 | 6 | - | - | - |
| Cream of Tartar | 6 | 6 | - | - | — |
| Glycerine | 6 | 6 | - | - | — |
| Boracic Powder | 6 | 6 | - | - | - |
| Cod Liver Oil | 6 | 6 | - | - | - |
| Citric Acid | 6 | 6 | - | - | - |
| Arrowroot | 6 | 6 | - | - | None |
| Sweets | 6 | 6 | - | - | None |
| Castor Oil | 5 | 5 | - | - | - |
| Ammoniated Tincture | 5 | 3 | 2 | 40.0 | — |
| of Quinine | |||||
| Ground Ginger | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0 | 2 |
| Condensed Milk | 3 | 3 | - | - | None |
| Cheese | 3 | 3 | - | - | None |
| Dried Milk | 3 | 3 | - | - | None |
| Jelly | 3 | 3 | - | - | 2 |
| Jam | 3 | 3 | - | - | None |
| Tea | 3 | 2 | - | - | -_ |
| Boric Ointment | 3 | 2 | 1 | 33.3 | _ |
| Lard | 3 | 3 | - | - | None |
| Candied Peel | 3 | 3 | - | - | None |
Details of samples, shown in the above table to contain preservative, are
given under the respective headings in those cases where an offence had been
committed.
Table B shows the number of samples taken under the Act with the
percentage of adulteration and also the total number of samples examined
during the past ten years.
Table B.
Year.
Samples
taken under
the Act.
Number
Adulterated.
Percentage
Adulterated.
Bact.
Examination
Miscellaneous
Samples
Total
Samples
1923
1,398
27
19
16
1,414
1924
1,456
45
3.1
—
40
1,496
1925
1,378
44
3.2
—
36
1,414
1926
1,341
37
2.8
—
41
1,382
1927
1,292
42
3.3
—
55
1,347
1928
1,528
68
4.5
-
29
1,557
1929
1,537
63
4.1
-
72
1,609
1930
1,518
35
2.3
1
83
1,602
1931
1,488
43
2.9
46
173
1,707
1932
1,546
48
3.1
38
185
1,769
Offences were committed in 56 cases. These were dealt with as shown
below :—
Adulterated.
Other offences.
Total.
Legal
Proceedings
Formal
Proceedings
17
5
22
Caution
13
—
13
No action .
2
—
2
Informal
16
3
19
48
8
56