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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
Paddington 1907
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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food adulteration.
67
FOOD ADULTERATION.
The samples submitted to the Public Anaylst during the year numbered 563, of which 52,
or 9.2 per cent. were found to be adulterated. The proportions found adulterated in the
three preceding years were :—1906, 10.2 ; 1905, 6.5 ; and 1904, 8.9. A list of the samples
purchased last year, together with the numbers and proportions found to be adulterated, is
given in Table 41.
TABLE 41.
| Total. | Found Adulterated. | Percentage Adulterated. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | 347* | 42 | 12.1 |
| Butter | 59 | 1 | 1.7 |
| Coffee | 13 | – | – |
| Cheese | 13 | – | – |
| Mustard | 3 | – | – |
| Sweets | 4 | – | – |
| Lard | 2 | – | – |
| Pepper | 4 | – | – |
| Cocoa | 8 | – | – |
| Arrowroot | 2 | – | – |
| Ground Ginger | 2 | – | – |
| Cream | 20 | 9 | 45.0 |
| Jam | 8 | – | – |
| Sal Volatile | 2 | – | – |
| Vinegar | 6 | – | – |
| Cider | 2 | – | – |
| Sweet Spirits of Nitre | 4 | – | – |
| Brandy | 6 | – | – |
| Potted Meat | 6 | – | – |
| Whisky | 4 | – | – |
| Tartaric Acid | 10 | – | – |
| Citric Acid | 6 | – | – |
| Baking Powder | 6 | – | – |
| Cream of Tartar | 6 | – | – |
| Flour | 4 | – | – |
| Ketchup | 2 | – | – |
| Gin | 2 | – | – |
| Bread | 4 | – | – |
| Olive Oil | 2 | – | – |
| Ground Rice | 2 | – | – |
| Preserved Peas | 2 | – | – |
| Ammon. Tinct. Quinine | 2 | – | – |
| 563 | 52 | 9.2 |
* Including 68 taken at Paddington (G.W.R.) Terminus in course of delivery; 22 adulterated.
Of 347 samples of milk, 68 were taken at the Paddington (G.W.R.) Terminus at the
request of the consignees who had contracts with the farmers sending the milk to London.
Of such samples, 22, or 32.3 per cent. were found to be adulterated, as compared with 30.6
in 1906; 12.6 in 1905, and 18.7 in 1904.
Samples of milk were purchased in the streets on Sunday on 8 occasions, 74 samples being
so taken, of which 11 were adulterated, equal to 14.8 per cent. as compared with 4.4 per cent.
of the samples purchased on other days.