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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The following is a summary of the results of analysis of the 37 adulterated formal and informal samples, together with a record of the action taken by the Council:—
| Article analysed | Nature and amount of adulteration. | Action taken. |
|---|---|---|
| Butter | 13.8 grains of boric acid per pound | Proceedings. Fined £2 and £1 1s. costs. |
| Meat, minced | 320 parts of sulphur dioxide per million (presence of preservative not disclosed). | Vendor cautioned. |
| „ „ | 85 „ „ „ | „ „ |
| Milk | 72 per cent. of the required fat deficient. | Samples taken respecting a special investigation. |
| „ | 42 „ „ „ | „ „ „ |
| „ | 25 „ „ „ | Proceedings. Fined £1 and £1 costs. |
| „ | 16 „ „ „ | * „ „ £1. |
| „ | 14 „ „ „ | * „ „ £1. |
| „ | 12 „ „ „ | * „ „ £1. |
| „ | 10 „ „ „ | Informal sample. |
| „ | 9 „ „ „ | *Proceedings. Fined £1. |
| „ | 9 „ „ „ | Proceedings. Summons dismissed. |
| „ | 8 „ „ „ | * „ Fined £1. |
| „ | 8 „ „ „ | Informal sample. |
| „ | 7 „ „ „ | Proceedings. Defendant to pay £2 2s. costs |
| „ | 7 „ „ „ | „ Fined £1 and £1 costs. |
| „ | 6 „ „ „ | „ Defendant to pay £2 2s. costs. |
| „ | 6 „ „ „ | * „ Fined £1. |
| „ | 6 „ „ „ | Fined £1 and £1 costs. |
| „ | 5 „ „ „ | Informal sample. |
| „ | 4 „ „ „ | Vendor cautioned. |
| „ | 4 „ „ „ | Informal sample. |
| „ | 3 „ „ „ | „ „ |
| „ | 3 „ „ „ | Vendor cautioned. |
| „ | 2 „ „ „ | „ „ |
| 1.5 „ „ „ | Informal sample. | |
| „ | 5 per cent. extraneous water. | Vendor cautioned. |
| „ | 4 „ „ „ | „ „ |
| „ | 3.5 | „ „ |
| „ | 2 „ „ „ | Informal sample. |
| Prescription, medical | 37.6 per cent. of the required sulphate of quinine deficient. | Summons withdrawn, defendant to pay £2 12s. 6d. costs. |
| Rice | 10.5 grains per pound of extraneous mineral matter. | Vendor cautioned. |
| Sausages | 288.4 parts of sulphur dioxide per million (presence of preservative not disclosed). | Informal sample. |
| „ | 260.9 „ „ „ | „ „ |
| „ | 233 „ „ „ | Proceedings. Fined £2 and 10s. 6d. costs. |
| „ | 219.7 „ „ „ | Informal sample. |
| „ | 164.8 „ „ „ | „ „ |
| * These samples were obtained from the same defendant, he was also ordered to pay £5 costs in all. | ||
The total number of prosecutions under the Food & Drugs (Adulteration) Act was fifteen,
the fines and costs amounting to £29 8s.
The Public Health (Condensed Milk) Regulations 1923-1927, and the Public Health (Dried
Milk) Regulations, 1923-1927.—During the year, six samples of condensed milk and two of dried
milk were taken and each was found to comply with the Regulations in every respect.
Public Health (Preservatives, etc., in Food) Regulations, 1925-1927.—Five contraventions of
the Regulations occurred during the year. In each case the offence consisted of selling sausages
containing preservative without disclosing its presence at the time of sale. The preservative
used in each case was sulphur dioxide and the amount used in each instance was below the limit
which would have been allowed if there had been a declaration.
Chemical and Bacteriological Examination of Food.—During the year a number of samples
of food were submitted to the laboratory at St. Mary Abbots Hospital.
There was no outbreak of food poisoning during the year.