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

Fulham 1923

Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1923

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Table: Samples Purchased for Analysis during 1923:—

Samples Purchased for Analysis during 1923:—

Article.Number of samples taken officially.Number Adulterated.Number of samples taken unofficially.Number Adulterated.Total Samples.Total Adulterated.Percentage of Adulteration.
Milk588276—594274.5
Separated milk61——6116.6
Butter1—116111710.8
Cheese——20—20——
Cream418312433.3
Preserved cream2—11—13—_
Lemon curd2—224250.0
Lemon cheese——1—1——
Lard——22—22—_
Honey——3—3——
Borax2—15417423.5
Gelatine——212150.0
Salts——4—4——
Rice1—506233.3
Fish pastes2—0—4——
Meat pastes——3—3——
Sweets1———1——
Jam1—11212216.6
Meat pies72——7228.5
Cocoa——22—22——
Coffee1—1611715.8
Pepper1—8—9——
Mustard——6—6——
Malt vinegar2—416116.6
Sugar——1—1——
Self-raising flour——12—12——
Sponge cakes2—28330310.0
Sponge fingers——44——
Beef sausages——929222.2
Pork sausages——323266.6
Prescriptions——6—6——
Shredded suet——1—1_—
Margarine——55——
Camphorated oil5———5——
Machine skimmed con-densed milk——9—9——
Full cream condensed milk——717114.2
62831372251,000565.6

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It is an interesting commentary on the state of
our food supplies that, roughly, one in every twenty
samples (5.6 per cent.) taken during the year was
found to be adulterated in some way or another.
This, however, is an improvement on the previous
year, when 6.4 per cent, were adulterated.