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
Battersea 1910
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1910
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71
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.
The object of these Acts is two-fold in character: (a) to protect
the honest trader from fraudulent competition, and (b) to safeguard
the public from fraud, imposition and dangers to health in regard
to food and drugs.
During 1910, 1,000 samples were purchased within the Borough
of Battersea and submitted to the Public Analyst for analysis. Of
these 1,000 samples 87 (i.e., 8.7 per cent.) were reported by the
Analyst to be adulterated, and in addition 24 samples were reported
by him to be inferior.
The following table gives the details of the number of samples purchased during the year, and the numbers found to be genuine or otherwise:-
| Description of Article. | Total No. of Samples taken. | Genuine. | Adulterated. | Inferior. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrowroot | 5 | 5 | — | — |
| Bread | 5 | 5 | — | — |
| Butter | 173 | 141 | 14 | 18 |
| Camphorated Oil | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Cheese | 10 | 7 | — | 3 |
| Cocoa | 15 | 13 | — | 2 |
| Coffee | 25 | 24 | 1 | — |
| Cream | 9 | 4 | 5 | — |
| Fish (preserved) | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| Flour | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| Gin | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| Honey | 5 | 5 | — | — |
| Jam | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| Lard | 16 | 15 | 1 | — |
| Margarine | 13 | 13 | — | — |
| Meat (preserved) | 8 | 6 | 2 | — |
| Milk | 642 | 588 | 54 | — |
| Mustard | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| Oatmeal | 6 | 6 | — | — |
| Olive Oil | 5 | 5 | — | — |
| Pepper | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| Rice | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| Rum | 4 | 3 | 1 | — |
| Sausages | 13 | 6 | 7 | — |
| Vinegar | 5 | 4 | 1 | — |
| Whisky | 8 | 8 | — | — |
| Totals | 1,000 | 889 | 87 | 24 |