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
Poplar 1907
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Poplar, Metropolitan Borough]
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127
respectively, and the vendors were summoned for delivering margarine in
improperly marked paper wrappers.
Result of Analyses.
Of these 369 samples, 20 were found to be so adulterated that legal
proceedings were instituted.
Milk 9
Butter 7*
Margarine (not delivered in properly marked
wrapper) 1
Demerara Sugar 1
Coffee 1
Malt Vinegar 1
20
The Public Analyst reported that during the year he had analysed
372† samples; 27 or nearly 7.3 per cent. were found to be adulterated.
This compares with 7 per cent. for 1906, practically the same result.
The following table shows the percentage of all adulterated samples found in the several years named:—
| 1890 | 12.6 |
| 1891 | 14.4 |
| 1892 | 18.9 |
| 1893 | 20.5 |
| 1894 | 20.6 |
| 1895 | 22.1 |
| 1896 | 12.4 |
| 1897 | 14.2 |
| 1898 | 14.6 |
| 1899 | 9.2 |
| 1900 | 7.6 |
* See page 129.
† Three of these 372 samples were submitted to the Public Analyst by private
purchasers, who each paid the statutory fee of 10s. 6d. for the analysis. The three
samples from private persons were Butter, Lemonade and Ginger Beer. The Butter
was adulterated with 316 per cent. of foreign fat and contained 0.15 per cent. of
Boric Acid. The Lemonade and Ginger Beer were both genuine in every respect.