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
Islington 1903
Forty-eighth annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Borough of Islington
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239
[1903
Butter.—The adulteration of butter, as judged by the analyses, does not
seem to have been practised to the same extent as in the previous year, for
whereas then the percentage of adulteration was 157 per cent., in 1903 it was
only 7.2 per cent. 180 samples were purchased, of which 13 were returned as
adulterated with foreign fats, which may be considered tantamount to saying
that margarine was substituted for the article demanded. No sample of butter
was returned as containing more than 16 per cent. of water, which is the
maximum amount laid down in the Sale of Butter Regulations of the Board of
Agriculture.
Margarine.—29 samples were purchased, of which 9, or 31.0 per cent.,
were sold contrary to the provisions of the Margarine Act.
GROCERIES.
169 samples were purchased, of which 29 were adulterated. They were as follows:—
| No. of Samples. | No. Adulterated. | Percentage Adulterated. | Percentage Adulterated in 1902. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | 39 | 6 | ||
| Cocoa | 14 | 1 | ||
| Tea | 4 | |||
| Sugar, Demarara | 37 | 17 | 64.7 | |
| Pepper (Black) | 10 | |||
| „ (White) | 8 | 1 | ||
| Mustard | 20 | |||
| Arrowroot | 3 | |||
| Vinegar (Malt) | 9 | 1 | ||
| Ginger (Ground) | 6 | |||
| Baking Powder | 2 | |||
| Jam (Black Currant) | 2 | |||
| Sweets | ||||
| Yeast | 6 | 2 | ||
| Dripping | 8 | |||
| 169 | 29 |
Spirituous Drinks.
26 samples of spirits were examined, of which 6 were returned as reduced
by added water below the strength allowed by Act of Parliament.