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 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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55
Adulteration of Food
During the year five hundred and thirty-three formal samples of food and drugs were purchased, of which twenty-eight (52.%) were either adulterated or otherwise unsatisfactory. Four hundred and sixty-eight informal samples were also purchased, of which thirty-seven (7.9%) were either adulterated or otherwise unsatisfactory. The following table summarizes the action taken in respect of the defective samples:-
| Unsatisfactory sample | No. of Prosecutions | No, of warnings to Producers, Manufacturers or Vendors | No. of Notifications to Ministries of Agriculture or Food | No further action | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | — | 3 | 1 | 9 | 13 |
| Cake Mixture | - | 1 | — | 1 | 2 |
| Cake Flour Mixture | _ | 1 | - | 1 | 2 |
| Cheese Spread | - | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| Meringues | - | - | 5 | — | 5 |
| Lung Syrup | - | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Chest and Lung Mixture | - | _ | - | 1 | 1 |
| Cream (canned) | — | — | - | 1 | 1 |
| Meat and Gravy (canned) | _ | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| Potted Meat | — | — | 1 | — | 1 |
| Meringue Powder | - | - | — | 1 | 1 |
| Beef Sausages | - | 1 | - | — | 1 |
| Pork Sausages | - | 3 | — | — | 3 |
| Dappled Sugar (Coffee sugar) | - | - | _ | 2 | 2 |
| Cider | - | — | - | 1 | 1 |
| Butta Mints | — | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Custard Powder | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Tonic Water | - | 1 | — | _ | 1 |
| Ground Nutmeg | - | — | - | 3 | 3 |
| Non-Brewed Condiment | - | 2 | - | - | 2 |
| Creamed Cheese | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Cream Cheese | — | — | 5 | - | 5 |
| Coffee | — | — | - | 1 | 1 |
| Sweets | - | — | - | 1 | 1 |
| Single Cream | — | — | - | 1 | 1 |
| Egg Powder | — | 1 | - | — | 1 |
| Orange Juice | - | 1 | - | — | 1 |
| Pate de Foie (canned) | _ | - | 1 | ||
| Pull Cream Conden sed Milk | - | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Tomato Soup (canned) | - | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| Dundee Cake Mixture | - | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Raspberry Fruit Syrup | - | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Table Jelly | — | 1 | _ | - | 1 |
| Pork Sausage Meat | - | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| TOTALS:- | - | 16 | 14 | 35 + | 65 |
+ In all cases the results of these unsatisfactory samples were
brought to the notice of the producers, manufacturers or vendors
as the case may be.