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 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead Borough]
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| Case No. | Name of Article. | Offence. | How dealt with. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 207 | Concentrated non-brewed Vinegar | This is a solution containing 57.8 per cent. acetic acid. It is improperly described as non-brewed vinegar | Manufacturer cautioned. |
| 266 | Pears | The sample of pears (informal) is substantially contaminated with arsenic. The amount present is about 15 parts per million on the skin | All fruiterers instructed. |
| 289 | Ice Cream | Fat content 1.08 per cent. | Ministry of Food notified. |
| 290 | Ice Cream | Fat content 1.73 per cent. | Ministry of Food notified. |
| 294 | Pears | The sample contains a quantity of copper arsenic on the skin but the amount on the sample as a whole is approximately 1 part per million | Vendor cautioned. |
| 329 | Fruit Crisp Biscuits | These biscuits contain no fruit nor any perceptible amount of fruit essence | Manufacturer cautioned. |
| 345 | Beef Sausages | Contains 220 parts per million sulphur dioxide. Preservative not declared | Summons issued. Marylebone Police Court. Dismissed £3 3s. costs. |
| 357 | Sausages | Total meat content 38 per cent. (Should contain at least 50 per cent. of meat.) | Referred to Ministry of Food. |
| 376 | Tomato Paste, tinned | The sample shows a concentration of 30.9 per cent. and the copper content is 140 p.p.m. on the dry basis. The amount of copper is rather too high | Stock surrendered and destroyed. |
| 400 | Butter Scotch | Contains only 0.8 per cent. butter fat | Manufacturer cautioned. Ministry of Food notified. |
| 433 | Self-raising Flour | The available carbon dioxide in this sample is 0.31 per cent. which is somewhat below the standard (0.45 per cent.) | Vendor cautioned and remainder of stock withdrawn from sale. |
| 445 | Packet Gelatine | Contains 2 parts per million arsenic (permitted limit 1.4 p.p.m.) | Manufacturer and vendor cautioned. Stock withdrawn from sale. |
| 480 | Nut Cake Decorations | This preparation consists wholly of dyed bread crumbs and contains no nut | Manufacturer and vendor cautioned. |
(b) Bacteriological Examination of Foodstuffs.
One hundred and forty-four samples were submitted to the Laboratories
of Pathology and Public Health, 6, Harley Street, W.1.
Of these 49 were in respect of Ice Cream which were graded under the Methylene Blue Test as follows:—
| Grade 1 | 31 |
| Grade 2 | 5 |
| Grade 3 | 8 |
| Grade 4 | 5 |
Eight of the above ice cream samples were purchased on Hampstead
Heath on Bank Holidays. Of these one was Grade 1, two Grade 2,
two Grade 3 and three Grade 4.