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97
Food and drugs
In 1902 the Medical Officer of Health who was also the public
analyst commenced dealing with articles in his newly completed Laboratory.
During the year he reported that of 228 samples of milk analysed
47 were adulterated (20.6%), and of 149 samples of butter 15 (101%)
were adulterated. Needless to say, the offenders were proceeded against
and numerous fines and cautions were imposed by the magistrates concerned.
Food sampling continued through the years, and the M.O.H.
as the Public Analyst reported upon many thousands of samples until
the time of his retirement in 1927. As an example of the samples submitted
to Dr. Wellesley Harris for examination, the statistics below
are extracted from the doctor's last Annual Report.
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts
Four hundred and seventy-three samples were taken under the
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, and submitted to the Public Analyst
during the year.
Of this number 368 were purchased officially in conformity with
the provisions of the Acts, and the remaining 105 were bought informally
as "test" samples.
Twelve or 3.2 per cent, of the official samples were certified by the
Public Analyst as being adulterated, or below legal standard, compared
with 1.1 per cent. in 1926
The following Table shows the nature and number of samples
analysed, and the number found to be adulterated