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
Bethnal Green 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bethnal Green Borough]
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92
Of the informal samples 15 were adulterated and six
were of doubtful or inferior quality.
The adulteration for the previous six years was as follows:—
| Year | No. of samples Exam1ned. | Percentage of adulterat1on. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | 731 | 9•30 | |
| 1927 | 728 | 9•20 | |
| 1926 | 721 | 3•3 | |
| 1925 | 745 | 3•9 | |
| 1924 | 754 | 6•1 | |
| 1923 | 736 | 5•6 | |
| Average | 736 | 6•2 | |
The average adulteration for the London Boroughs in
1928 was at the rate of 3.52 per cent., and for the whole
of England and Wales, 5.8 per cent.
The number of samples exam1ned was in the ratio of
6.6 per thousand of the population, as compared with an
average of 8.99 per thousand for the London Boroughs,
and 3.4 for the whole of England and Wales.
The percentage of adulteration, according to the
Ministry of Health's Annual Report, is one of the highest
in London. This, in my opinion, does not indicate that
there is more adulteration practised in Bethnal Green than
in other Boroughs, but it is probably due to the fact that
the Officers concerned are sufficiently diligent to follow up
and concentrate their attention on cases of doubtful or
inferior samples.
Preservatives.
The following samples were found to contain preservatives:—
| Sample. | Number Examined. | Percentage preserved. |
|---|---|---|
| Cordials | 9 | 44.4 |
| Cream | 8 | 25.0 |
| Dried Fruits | 6 | 50.0 |
| Jelly Crystals | 1 | 100.0 |
| Meat, fresh | 7 | 42.8 |
| Sausage | 14 | 42.9 |
| Sweets | 8 | 25.0 |
| Table Jelly | 1 | 100.0 |
| Total 54 | 40.8 | |