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
Hampstead 1945
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead Borough]
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sale and formal cautions sent to the retailers and manufacturers concerned. Notifications of certain contraventions of Food Orders were also sent to the Ministry of Food.
| Article of food. | No. of samples found to be adulterated and particulars of adulteration. |
|---|---|
| Grape fruit flavoured beverage | 1. Coloured flavoured solution of citric acid. |
| Flour | 2. Both deficient in CO2. |
| Egg substitute powder | 2. Both deficient in CO2. |
| Baking powder | 1. Deficient in CO2. |
| Compound ginger wine | 1. Contained 6 per cent. phosphoric acid. |
| Pork sausages | 1. Deficient in meat. |
| Gelatine | 1. Excess arsenic and SO2. |
| Curry powder | 5. Contained excessive proportion bean flour. |
| Concentrated vinegar | 1. Contained excess acetic acid. |
| Butter | 1. Contained excess water. |
| Parsley | 2. Contaminated with arsenic and excess ash. |
| Sweet herbs | 1. Contaminated with arsenic and excess ash. |
| Sage | 1. Excess ash. |
| Pea flour | 1. Damaged by maggots. |
| Cocoa | 2. 50 per cent. deficient in fat. |
| Glaubers salt | 2. Excess strength. |
| Cupids Bow cocktail tonic | 1. False label. |
| Cheritone iron tonic cup | 1. False label. |
| Earl Eton cocktail | 1. False label. |
• Legal Proceedings.
Prosecutions were instituted against three wholesalers in respect of
diluted curry powder as follows :—
1. Containing 30 per cent. Summons withdrawn on payment of
bean meal costs (£21).
2. Containing 50 per cent. Warranties proved. Summons dismissed.
ground rice
3. Containing 50 per cent. Warranty proved. Summons dismissed.
bean flour
Samples of curry taken subsequent to these cases showed that such
excessive dilutions had ceased.
Food Standards and Labelling.
The good work of the Ministry of Food in prescribing standards for
foodstuffs continues and this year has seen legal standards laid down
for mayonnaise and salad cream, and for liquid coffee essences, while the
labelling of British wines was regulated. In July the Ministry made
recommendations on the wording of advertisements for foods claimed to
be sources of vitamins and minerals.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
Infestation Order, 1943.
The staff engaged in rat destruction consists of three full-time men
(two temporary). The services of the Sanitary Inspectors are always
available to give advice and assistance to the public on this problem.
The Ministry of Food's publicity campaign for the destruction of
rats has received an impetus owing to the gravity of the world food
situation. The depredations of rats are a serious drain on food resources