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
Battersea 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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42
(B)—SAMPLING OF FOOD AND DRUGS.
The analysis of samples of food and drugs purchased formally
and informally under the Food and Drugs Act is carried out by the
Public Analyst for the Borough, J. E. Woodhead, Esq., B.sc., f.r.i.C.,
ph.c.. at his laboratory at 325 Kennington Road, London, S.E.11.
General bacteriological examination, and the examination of
samples of heat-treated milk and of ice-cream, is carried out by the
Public Health Laboratory Service.
The total number of formal samples taken under the Act during
1961 was 146. In addition, 298 informal samples were procured.
Of the 444 formal and informal samples procured for analysis, none
were reported by the Public Analyst to be adulterated.
This is the first year on record during which all samples, both formal
and informal, have proved to be genuine. However, one formal sample
of sasausages was found to contain a lower percentage of meat than it is
generally agreed they should contain. As there is no statutory requirement
in this matter, action was taken by cautioning the manufacturers.
The percentages of samples reported by the Public Analyst to be adulterated during the quinquennia 1921 to 1960 are given in the following table. The years 1960 and 1961 are shown separately.
| Year | Formal samples (per cent.) | Informal samples (per cent.) |
|---|---|---|
| Mean 1921—1925 | 6.4 | 7.4 |
| „ 1926—1930 | 3.3 | 2.4 |
| „ 1931—1935 | 1.8 | 2.1 |
| „ 1936—1940 | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| „ 1941—1945 | 1.4 | 1.1 |
| „ 1946—1950 | 1.0 | 1.1 |
| „ 1951—1955 | 2.1 | 2.2 |
| „ 1956—1960 | 1.1 | 0.9 |
| 1960 | 1.9 | 0.5 |
| 1961 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
The following tables give details of the articles of food and drugsof which samples were obtained for the purpose of analysis.
| Nature of Sample | EXAMINED | ADULTERATED | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formal | Informal | Total | Formal | Informal | Total | |
| Baking Powder | — | 4 | 4 | — | — | |
| Batter Mixture | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Beans in Tomato Sauce | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| Biscuits | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Bread and Bread Crumbs | — | 6 | 6 | — | — | — |
| Butter | 3 | — | 3 | — | — | — |
| Cake and Pudding Mixture | 1 | 9 | 10 | — | — | — |
| Cereal Preparations | 1 | 16 | 17 | — | — | — |
| Carried forward | 6 | 38 | 44 | — | — | — |