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
Lewisham 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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56
FOOD GENERALLY
Adulteration of food
The number of samples taken during the year under the Food and
Drugs Act was 675 ; of these, 8 were formal and 667 informal. After
examination the public analyst reported that 5 of the formal samples
and 22 of the informal samples were adulterated or below standard ;
the percentage of adulteration amounted to 62.5 in the formal samples,
3.3 in the informal samples, and to 4.0 of all the samples submitted,
compared with 3 • 5 in the previous year.
Samples analysed Table 36
| Articles | Examined | Adulterated | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formal | Informal | Total | Formal | Informal | Total | |
| Beverages | 1 | 47 | 48 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Bread, biscuits, cake flour | — | 37 | 37 | — | — | _ |
| Colouring matter | — | 6 | 6 | — | — | — |
| Drugs | — | 5 | 5 | — | 2 | 2 |
| Fats, cheese | — | 9 | 9 | -_ | _- | — |
| Fish | - | 15 | 15 | - | 3 | 3 |
| Flavourings and condiments | — | 142 | 142 | - | 2 | 2 |
| Fruit, nuts | — | 26 | 26 | - | - | -_ |
| Icecream | - | 28 | 28 | -_ | - | - |
| Jams, pastes, etc. | — | 54 | 54 | — | 3 | 3 |
| Meats and preserved meats | 1 | 35 | 36 | — | 4 | 4 |
| Milk and cream | 2 | 80 | 82 | - | - | — |
| Sausages | 3 | 45 | 48 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Sweet confectionery | 1 | 45 | 46 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Vegetables and cereals | — | 30 | 30 | — | — | — |
| Miscellaneous | — | 63 | 63 | — | 1 | 1 |
| TOTALS | 8 | 667 | 675 | 5 | 22 | 27 |
Non-genuine samples Table 37
| Article | Formal or informal | Adulteration or irregularity | Action taken or result of proceedings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composition essence | Informal | Sample did not contain the declared amount of alcohol | Formal sample required |
| Rum and butter toffees | Informal | Sample contained insufficient butter fat | Formal sample taken (see next item) |
| Rum and butter toffees | Formal | Fat in sample contained not more than 2% butter | Labels to be amended |
| Minced chicken in jelly | Informal | Deficient in meat to the extent of 5.7% | Formal sample required |
| Hamburger sausage meat | Informal | Deficient in meat to the extent of 14.7% | Manufacturer notified |
| Hamburger sausage meat | Formal | Deficient in meat to the extent of 20% | Manufacturer notified |