London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Bermondsey 1905
Report on the sanitary condition of the Borough of Bermondsey for the year 1905
This page requires JavaScript
Table XVII.—Food and Drugs.
| Articles submitted for analysis. | Total samples taken. | Number genuine. | Number adulterated. | Percentage of articles adulterated. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | 562 | 505 | 57 | 10.1 |
| Separated Milk | 5 | 5 | nil | ... |
| Skimmed Milk | 4 | 4 | nil | ... |
| Milk and Water | 1 | 1 | nil | ... |
| Condensed Milk | 1 | 1 | nil | ... |
| Butter | 217 | 201 | 16 | 7.4 |
| Margarine | 22 | 22 | nil | ... |
| Pepper | 27 | 27 | nil | ... |
| White Pepper | 3 | 3 | nil | 25.0 |
| Cayenne Pepper | 4 | 3 | 1 | 25.0 |
| Vinegar (Malt) | 24 | 15 | 9 | 37.5 |
| Vinegar | 5 | 5 | nil | ... |
| Lard | 3 | 3 | nil | ... |
| Ginger Wine | 1 | 1 | nil | ... |
| Coffee | 21 | 21 | nil | ... |
| Liquid Coffee | 1 | 1 | nil | ... |
| Cocoa | 6 | 5 | 1 | 16.7 |
| Cheese | 5 | 5 | nil | ... |
| Coffee and Chicory | 1 | 1 | nil | ... |
| Arrowroot | 5 | 5 | nil | ... |
| Mustard | 8 | 8 | nil | ... |
| Ice Cream | 1 | 1 | nil | ... |
| Oatmeal | 1 | 1 | nil | ... |
| Rice | 14 | 14 | nil | ... |
| Ground Rice | 2 | 2 | nil | ... |
| Flaked Rice | 1 | 1 | nil | ... |
| Sago | 2 | 2 | nil | ... |
| Jam (Plum) | 7 | 7 | nil | ... |
| „ (Raspberry) | 4 | 4 | nil | ... |
| „ (Black Currant) | 2 | 2 | nil | ... |
| „ (Strawberry) | 2 | 2 | nil | ... |
| „ (Apricot) | 1 | 1 | nil | ... |
| „ (Greengage) | 1 | 1 | nil | ... |
| „ (Mixed Fruit) | 1 | 1 | nil | ... |
| Golden Syrup | 1 | 1 | nil | ... |
| Milk Chocolate | 1 | 1 | nil | ... |
| Burnt Almondas | 1 | 1 | nil | ... |
| Sweetstuff Cigarettes | 1 | 1 | nil | ... |
| Greengage Balls | 1 | 1 | nil | ... |
| Coltsfoot Rock | 1 | 1 | nil | ... |
| Camphorated. Oil | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50.0 |
| Glycerine | 2 | 2 | nil | ... |
| Saffron | 2 | 2 | nil | ... |
| Milk of Sulphur | 3 | 3 | nil | ... |
| Vaseline | 1 | 1 | nil | ... |
| Cod Liver Oil | 4 | 4 | nil | ... |
| Compound Liquorice Powder | 1 | 1 | nil | ... |
| Olive Oil | 4 | 3 | 1 | 25.0 |
| Totals | 990 | 904 | 86 | 8.7 |
Table XVIII.—Prosecutions in connection with Samples taken during 1905.
| No. | Sample. | Adulteration or Infringement. | Result. |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Quarter. | |||
| 313A | Malt Vinegar | Other than malt vinegar 50 per cent. | Fined £1 and £3 3s. costs |
| 261J | Butter | Margarine 100 per cent. | Fined £2 and 12/6 costs |
| „ wrapper not marked | Withdrawn, 2/- costs | ||
| – | – | *Obstructing or impeding Inspector in the execution of his duty | Fined £5 and 12/6 costs |
| 100D | Butter | Margarine 100 per cent. | Fined £5 and 12/6 costs |
| „ wrapper not marked | Withdrawn, 2/- costs | ||
| 272J | Butter | Margarine 100 per cent. | Dismissed. Defendant proved business had been sold. Wrong name given by occupier |
| „ wrapper not marked | Ditto | ||
| – | – | Obstruction of Inspector | Fined £1 and 2/- costs |
| Second Quarter. | |||
| 305S | Milk | Added water 6 per cent. | Fined £5 and 12/6 costs |
| 277H | Mik | Added water 11 per cent. | Fined £10 and 12/6 costs |
| 450c | Malt Vinegar | Other than malt vinegar 40 per cent. | Fined the costs, 12/6 |