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
City of London 1904
Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the City of London for the year 1904
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branded on the top with the word "margarine," as required by the Act. The
firm selling this article was not registered, and large quantities of margarine
passing through their hands in the City escaped registration altogether.
The firm referred to raised the question as to whether these tins were
"packages" within the meaning of the Act, as the case containing them was
sufficiently marked, but in order to raise no unnecessary difficulty, agreed to
comply with the requirements as to marking and durability of the lettering.
The firm also rectified the omission in regard to registration, and duly
registered the premises where the goods were handled. No further action was
therefore necessary.
IMPORTED DAIRY PRODUCTS.
From the last report issued by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries
(Intelligence Division) it is shown that in 1903, 2,414 samples of imported
articles of food were taken at the ports of entry into this country under
Section 1 of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1899, and analysed at the
Government Laboratory. These included 1,997 samples of butter, 223 of
cheese, 30 of fresh milk, 90 of condensed milk, 11 of sterilised milk, and 63
of cream. One sample of butter, four samples of condensed milk, and three
samples of sterilised milk were reported against. In six of these cases legal
proceedings were taken against the importers, which were successful in each
case, convictions being obtained and fines imposed. It is curious to note that
in one of the cases of condensed milk reported against, legal proceedings were
waived on payment of a fine of £2, which was imposed under the Customs
Consolidation Act.
The number of samples of butter, cheese, milk and cream taken at ports of entry during 1903, and two preceding years, were as under:—
| Year. | No. of samples. | Found adulterated. | Percentage of adulteration. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 2,142 | 11 | 0-51 per cent. |
| 1902 | 2,216 | 2 | 0.09 „ |
| 1903 | 2,414 | 8 | 0.33 „ |
These results are satisfactory, showing an annual average of only 0.31 per
cent. of adulteration amongst imported dairy produce, and compares very
favourably with the corresponding figures for England and Wales during the
same period when the annual average adulteration of samples of milk, butter
and cheese taken under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts was no less than
9.5 per cent.