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
Bethnal Green 1915
Report on the sanitary condition and vital statistics during the year 1915 together with the report of the Chief Sanitary Inspector
This page requires JavaScript
| Article. | Total Number of Samples taken. | Genuine. | Adulterated or deficient. | Offences other than Adulteration. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almonds, Ground | 6 | 6 | — | — |
| Ammoniated Tincture of Quinine | l | 1 | — | — |
| Butter | 133 | 128 | 5 | 7 |
| Camphorated Oil | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| Cheese | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Cocoa | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| Coffee | 5 | 4 | 1 | — |
| Cream | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Jam, Raspberry | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| Linseed, Crushed | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Margarine | 6 | 6 | — | — |
| Marmalade | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| Milk | 540 | 459 | 81 | 6 |
| Milk and Water | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Mustard | 7 | 7 | — | — |
| Olive Oil | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Pepper | 11 | 10 | 1 | — |
| Rice | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| Sago | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Totals | 728 | 640 | 88 | 13 |
Forty-two samples of milk, although genuine, were
certified to be of poor quality; five further samples were
deficient in fat to so slight an extent as not to warrant
legal proceedings, and the vendors were therefore
cautioned; the like course being adopted in three cases
of deficiency of fat where the amount remaining in the
counter-pan was very small.
The sample sold as milk and water contained 19
per cent, of added water.