London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Paddington 1912
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
This page requires JavaScript
104 FOOD ADULTERATION.
TABLE 55.
| Total. | Found Adulterated. | Percentage Adulterated. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | 297* | 53 | 17.8 |
| Lime Juice Cordial | 39 | 28 | 75.3 |
| Sausages | 32 | 11 | 34.3 |
| Mincemeat | 26 | 5 | 19.2 |
| Cream | 23 | 3 | 13.0 |
| Butter | 22 | 2 | 9.1 |
| Vinegar | 20 | - | — |
| Cheese | 15 | - | — |
| Coffee | 11 | - | — |
| Cocoa | 11 | - | — |
| Bread | 11 | - | — |
| Lard | 9 | - | — |
| Jams | 9 | - | — |
| Mustard | 8 | - | — |
| Custard Powder | 7 | - | — |
| Borax | 6 | - | — |
| Jelly Crystals | 6 | - | — |
| Marmalade | 5 | - | — |
| Pepper | 5 | - | — |
| Fish Pastes | 5 | - | — |
| Brawn | 4 | 2 | 50.0 |
| Ginger | 3 | — | — |
| Spirits | 3 | — | — |
| Wines | 2 | — | — |
| Baking Powder | 2 | — | — |
| Margarine | 2 | — | — |
| Ammoniated Tincture of Quinine | 1 | — | — |
| Blanc Mange Powder | 1 | — | — |
| Ginger Wine | 1 | — | — |
| Carbolic Soap | 1 | — | — |
| Glycerine | 1 | — | — |
| Camphorated Oil | 1 | — | — |
| Sweet Spirits of Nitre | 1 | — | — |
| Black Currant Jelly | 1 | — | — |
| Pressed Beef | 1 | — | — |
| Nutmeg | 1 | — | — |
| Mace | 1 | — | — |
| Cloves | 1 | — | — |
| Cinnamon | 1 | — | — |
| Carraway | 1 | — | — |
| Curry Powder | 1 | — | — |
| Mercury Pills | 1 | — | — |
| Iodides | 1 | - | - |
| 600 | 104 | 17.4 | |
| * Including 80 taken at Paddington (G.W.R.) Terminus in course of delivery : 40 adulterated. | |||
Preservatives in Foods.—In foodstuffs, other than milk and butter, the addition of
preservatives was the only form of adulteration reported during the year, but it has to be
remembered that a declaration of the admixture of other ingredients to any particular food
demanded protects the seller from liability under the Acts. The form of declaration is only
too frequently very inadequate.
Sausages.—Of 32 samples of sausages purchased during December 11 were found to contain
boron preservatives. The average amount of preservative was equivalent to 8.81 grains of boric
acid per lb., ranging from 4.2 grains to 1525. In 3 samples the amount was less than 5 grains,
in one between 5 and 6, in 3 between 7 and 8, in 3 from 14 to 15, and in one over 15.