Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Annual report of Medical Officer of Health for 1909
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Table II. shows that this reduction in the proportion of adulterated Food
and Drugs sold has been general throughout the country since 1877, and has
been in direct proportion to the activity displayed by local authorities in the
administration of the law.
In this connection Dr. Teed's remark in commenting on the low percentage
of adulteration during the Quarter ended the 30th September last, when it had
fallen to 1.3 per cent., may be quoted:—
"This is the lowest figure I have as yet been able to report, and I
"hope that it will so continue, but my experience does not lead me to
"expect it. Adulteration seems occasionally to approach vanishing point,
"only to break out later with renewed vigour."
MILK. It is satisfactory to note a further decrease in milk adulteration during 1909, as shown by the following Table:—
Year. | No. of Samples Examined. | Found Genuine. | Found Adulterated. | Percentage of Adulterated Samples. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1901 | 392 | 209 | 83 | 21.2 |
1902 | 599 | 519 | 80 | 13.3 |
1903 | 517 | 457 | 60 | 11.6 |
1904 | 452 | 417 | 35 | 7.7 |
1905 | 481 | 445 | 36 | 7.5 |
1906 | 556 | 513 | 43 | 7.7 |
1907 | 472 | 432 | 40 | 8.4 |
1908 | 469 | 440 | 29 | 6.2 |
1909 | 520 | 495 | 25 | 4.8 |
From this it will be seen that the percentage of adulterated samples was
the lowest recorded since 1901, when it was no less than 21.2 per cent.
No sophistication of this article other than its impoverishment by watering
or skimming, or both, was reported during the year. The added water found
varied from 5 to 38 per cent., and the abstraction of fat from 7 to 40 per
cent. One sample contained 23 per cent. of added water, and 32 per cent. of
fat had been abstracted. Traces of boric acid were found in two cases.
The following Table shows the relation between place of purchase and adulteration:—
Where Purchased. | No. of Samples taken. | No. Adulterated. | Percentage of Samples Adulterated. | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1909. | 1909. | 1909. | ||||
At shop | 488 | 21 | 43 | |||
In the street | 18 | 1 | 55 | |||
During delivery | 14 | 3 | 214 | |||
Total | 520 | 25 | 4.8 |