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 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead Borough]
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17
Ice-cream.
The grading under the Methylene Blue test for the 78 samples of
ice-cream was: —
Grade 1 48
,, 2 17
„ 3 7
„ 4 6
Milk.
17 samples of Pasteurised Milk satisfied both the Methylene Blue
and Phosphatase Tests prescribed by the Order.
(b) Samples submitted to Chemical Analysis.
The total number of samples submitted to the late Public Analyst,
Dr. H. E. Cox, was 500, of which 15 or 3 per cent. were classed as
adulterated or unsatisfactory.
| Sample No. | Article. | Offence. | How dealt with. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Tinned Luncheon Meat | Contains large proportion of starchy filler | Not covered by Min. of Food Regulations. No action taken. |
| 23 | Tinned Mulligatawny Soup | Decomposed. Much contamined with iron | Stock surrendered and destroyed. |
| 29 | Tapioca Dessert | Contains only 3 per cent. and 5 per cent. tapioca respectively | Manufacturer warned. Min. of Food notified. |
| 86 | |||
| 41 | Parsley and Thyme Stuffing with lemon | No lemon detected | Manufacturer warned. |
| 65 | Palm Kernel Fat | Contains 33 per cent. Palm Kernel. Remainder is dripping | Vendor cautioned. (Product used as frying fat.) |
| 47 | Noodle Soup Mix (foreign) | Contains excessive arsenic. 8 parts per million | Importer and retailer cautioned by Town Clerk. Min. of Food notified. |
| 87 | |||
| 106 | |||
| 107 | |||
| 108 | |||
| 145 | Cream Cheese | Contains only 30.2 per cent. fat on water free basis | Summons issued. Defendant fined £10 and £5 5s. costs. |
| 188 | Steamed Pudding Mixture | Mouldy | Retailer cautioned. |
| 479 | Baking Powder | 11 per cent. deficient in CO2 | Retailer, wholesaler and manufacturer cautioned. |
| 493 | 18 per cent. deficient in CO2 |
The percentage of adulterated samples in 1950 was 1.6 per cent., in
1949, 3 8 per cent, and in 1948, 4 6 per cent.
A more common experience nowadays than the sophistication of
foods is the presence therein of foreign objects, contaminants or insects,
etc. The affected food usually finds its way to the Public Health Department
after the irate customers discover such things as cockroaches,
meal worms, or other insects; pieces of metal, string, glass, cigarette
ends, or other unwelcome additions in their food purchases. Many such
offences are accidental but a number are the result of gross carelessness.
Appropriate action was taken in respect of every complaint made.