London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Kensington 1936

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]

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58
pulp, pectin and fruit juices for a percentage of the named fruit, with a consequent lowering of the
general standard of the jams placed on the market. The jam manufacturers apparently became
alarmed at the chaotic position which they themselves had created, and in 1931, the Food Manufacturers'
Federation, after consulting the Society of Public Analysts and other Analytical Chemists,
prescribed standards for first and second quality jams.
These standards specify the minimum fruit content to be permitted in the various types of
jam, and the manner in which the jams should be labelled.

The minimum percentage of named fruit in jams of first quality is as follows:—

Cherry, rhubarb45%
Strawberry42%
Red gooseberry, greengage, victoria plum, red plum, apricot, peach40%
Raspberry, damson, blackberry, loganberry38%
Redcurrant, green gooseberry, green or golden plum35%
Blackcurrant30%

In all varieties of second quality jams the minimum fruit content required is 20 per cent.
In the case of jams conforming to the standards for first quality, no declaration of added fruit
juice is required, but with second quality jams the name of the fruit must be accompanied by the
words " With other fruit juice " in letters of the same size as the name of the fruit.
A correct example of labelling for first quality jams is as follows:—
STRAWBERRY.
FULL FRUIT STANDARD.
This jam is guaranteed to conform to the agreed
Full Fruit Standard of the Food Manufacturers'
Federation.
A correct example of labelling for second quality jams is as follows:—
STRAWBERRY WITH OTHER FRUIT JUICE.
LOWER FRUIT STANDARD.
This jam is guaranteed to conform to the agreed
Lower Fruit Standard of the Food Manufacturers'
Federation.
These standards of the Food Manufacturers' Federation have been widely adopted by
manufacturers throughout the country, and the terms "Full Fruit Standard" and "Lower Fruit
Standard " have become well recognised.
Recently instances have been noted where manufacturers of low quality jams have labelled
their products "Full Fruit Standard " but have omitted any reference to the Food Manufacturers'
Federation.
As an example of ingenious deception, the following label, attached to a jar of low standard
blackcurrant jam, is worthy of special mention :—
BLACKCURRANT.
FULL FRUIT STANDARD.
This jam is guaranteed to conform to the
agreed Full Fruit Standard of the Food
Manufacturers' Federation.
And other fruit juices.
Although fruit juice is permitted in jam of the full fruit standard, its presence need not be
declared. The finished jam, however, must have the minimum fruit content laid down for first
quality jam; in the case of blackcurrant this is 30 per cent. The jam to which the above label was
attached contained only 20 per cent, of fruit, which is the minimum quantity permitted in second
quality jam. It would probably be the contention of the manufacturer that the form of wording
adopted gives notice that the full fruit standard has been lowered by the addition of other fruit