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183
Public Health Offices,
Bow Road, E.,
December 31st, 1905.
To the Medical Officer of Health.
Sir,—
Unsound Food.
The year ending December 31st, 1905, was attended with
only one incident of any note occurring within the Bow East
Division, and consisted in the seizure and condemnation of an
exceptionally large quantity of bad fruit pulp obviously intended
for conversion into jam for human consumption, and ending in the
conviction of the manufacturer.
The evidence before the magistrate at the hearing largely tended
to demonstrate that it was no uncommon practice for certain jam
makers to avail themselves of any cheap and defective fruit
pulps with a view to the production of what might truly be termed
"resurrection jam," as it was shown that after subjecting the bad
pulps to a certain degree of temperature the character of the fruit
pulp became entirely disguised, and there was no means by which
its previous condition could be ascertained, the jam could only
be said to be of an inferior quality. This business of utilising bad
fruit pulps is on a parallel with the processes hitherto known to
have been applied to bad and inferior tinned meats, condensed
milks, etc., by passing them through a revivifying process and
then to be placed upon the market in a disguised and seductive
form. The far-reaching effect from the consumption of such goods
can possibly only be guessed at and probably is more disastrous
than it is possible to conjecture.
The particulars of the case dealt with in the district are as
follows: —
On 14th June the premises, No. 417a, Old Ford Road, were
visited, when a large number of barrels (about 150) filled and empty