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 1915
Sixtieth annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Metropolitan Borough of Islington
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119
[1915
The vendor of the milk sample referred to above, together with a very
deaf shopkeeper who had sold wood vinegar as malt vinegar, and stated he
had not heard the word "malt" when the purchase was made, were cautioned.
In the remaining 50 cases, summonses were issued, resulting in the defendants
being fined with costs, a total amount of £131 16s.
The several foods tested were as follows:—
| Number of Samples. | Genuine. | Adulterated. | Percentage Adulteration. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | 289 | 259 | 30 | 10.3 |
| Butter | 88 | 82 | 6 | 6.8 |
| Margarine | 241 | 209 | 32 | 13.2 |
| Coffee | 15 | 13 | 21 | — |
| Cocoa | 12 | 12 | — | — |
| Malt vinegar | 33 | 26 | 7 | 21.2 |
| Gin | 36 | 30 | 6 | 16.6 |
| Irish whiskey | 8 | 7 | 1 | 12.5 |
| 722 | 638 | 82 | 11.3 |
* Declaration on packets as to being admixtures.
For purposes of comparison I insert the following Table, showing the result of the test work since its inception in 1908:—
ALL SAMPLES.
| Year. | No. of Samples. | Declared. | Adulterated. | Percentage of Adulteration. | Fines and costs. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| s. | d. | ||||||
| 1908 | 340 | 38 | 47 | 13.8 | 6 | 9 | |
| 1909 | 473 | 96 | 88 | 18.7 | 100 | 15 | 6 |
| 1910 | 633 | 81 | 73 | 11.5 | 78 | 11 | 6 |
| 1911 | 663 | 10 | 68 | 10.2 | 97 | 6 | 6 |
| 1912 | 783 | 49 | 67 | 8.5 | 102 | 9 | 0 |
| 1913 | 668 | 36 | 89 | 13.3 | 124 | 11 | 6 |
| 1914 | 685 | 34 | 95 | 13.8 | 158 | 13 | 0 |
| 1915 | 722 | 2 | 82 | 11.3 | 131 | 16 | 0 |
| 4,967 | 346 | 609 | 12.2 | 865 | 9 | 9 | |