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
Kensington 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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In one instance only during the year was unsound food seized. In this case, following a
complaint, five decomposed chickens found in a provisions shop were seized by the Medical Officer
of Health, taken before a magistrate, and subsequently destroyed. Proceedings were taken
against the owner of the shop and a conviction was recorded, a fine of £20 being imposed.
The Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act, 1928.—This Act, which came into operation on the
1st January, 1929, has for its object the consolidation of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts. Being
a consolidating measure only, it does not alter the law relating to the sale of food and drugs, but
it incorporates into one enactment, the legislation relating to the subject hitherto provided in
eleven separate Acts of Parliament. This action by Parliament has very much simplified the
valuable legislation for protecting the public food supply.
The Council's food inspector is the sampling officer under the Act, and he is instructed to
take samples in any place within the borough. The samples procured are of two kinds, namely,
formal and informal.
(a) Formal Samples.—These are samples which are taken strictly in conformity with the requirements of the Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act, 1928, and during the year the food inspector collected 681, of which 24 or 3.5 per cent. were adulterated. Particulars of formal samples collected are as follow :—
| Nature of sample. | Number taken. | Number adulterated. |
|---|---|---|
| Apricots, Dried | 3 | — |
| Arrowroot | 5 | — |
| Brawn | 3 | _ |
| Butter | 49 | 1 |
| Cakes, Sponge | 9 | — |
| Cheese | 11 | — |
| Cocoa | 8 | — |
| Coffee | 5 | — |
| Cream | 12 | _ |
| Fish Paste | 7 | — |
| Fruit, Dried | 6 | — |
| Gin | 1 | — |
| Ginger, Ground | 2 | — |
| Ham | 6 | — |
| Honey | 7 | — |
| Lard | 12 | — |
| Lemon Cheese | 6 | —. |
| Lemon Squash | 3 | — |
| Liver | 1 | — |
| Margarine | 24 | — |
| Meat, Minced | 5 | 2 |
| Meat Paste | 6 | — |
| Milk | 334 | 18 |
| "Milk-Tops" | 1 | — |
| Mincemeat | 9 | — |
| Mustard | 2 | — |
| Mustard Mixture | 4 | — |
| Peas, Canned | 2 | — |
| Pepper | 12 | — |
| Powder, Lemonade | 3 | — |
| Prescription, Medical | 10 | 1 |
| Prunes | 1 | — |
| Rice | 18 | 1 |
| Sausages | 38 | 1 |
| Sweets | 6 | — |
| Syrup, Golden | 3 | — |
| Tea | 19 | — |
| Vinegar | 23 | — |
| Whisky | 5 | — |
| Totals | 681 | 24 |