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
Kensington 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
- 53 -
Sample Nature of Adulteration Remarks
| Canned Tomato Puree | Contained excessive tin. | Remainder of stock surrend-ered and destroyed. |
| Double Cream | Contained milk-fat 46.3%. | Warning sent to vendor. |
| Glauber's Salt | Consisted of effloresced Glauber's Salt and did not comply with the standard of the British Pharmacopoeia. The sample lost 48% of its weight when dried instead of not less than 51.5%. | No further action. |
| Table Jelly | Infested by mites and unsuitable for human consumption. | Warning sent to vendor. Remainder of stock surrend-ered and destroyed. |
| Shredded Beef Suet | Contained suet fat 70%, flour 30%. Suet should contain not less than 83% of beef fat. | No further action. |
Cream - Bacteriological Examination
Thirteen samples of cream were submitted to bacteriological
examination. Eight samples were satisfactory, four showed the
presence of Coliform bacilli (non-faecal) and one contained
Staph. Aureus in small numbers but a repeat sample proved
satisfactory.
Five samples were submitted to guinea pig inoculation
(tuberculosis) tests: four of these proved negative, while
in the other case the guinea pig died before a diagnosis could
be made.
Labelling of Food Order, 1953
Where food is pre-packed for sale it is a requirement of
the Labelling of Food Order, 1953, with certain exceptions,
that a list of ingredients of the food must be stated on the
label of the packet or container.
During the year four minor infringements of this Order
were found. The manufacturers concerned were notified and the
necessary amendments to the labels have been made.
Unsound food
Seizure
Under Sections 9 and 10 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938,
it is an offence to sell, offer, or expose for sale, food
intended for human consumption which is in an unfit condition.
Such food can be seized and taken before a Justice of the Peace,
who can condemn it, and order it to be destroyed or disposed
of for purposes other than human consumption.
In one case during the year a quantity of preserved fruit
was found in a bakehouse, in a fermented and decayed condition.
The sanitary inspector seized the food and took it to a Justice