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

City of Westminster 1915

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

This page requires JavaScript

Text

Copy text to clipboard

57
4. Infringements under Article 5 (1), Nil.
Infringements under Article 5 (2), Nil.
5. Thickening Substances. — The Analysts have not reported the
presence of any foreign substances other than preservatives in any
of the milks or creams examined by them.
Butter.—Of the 256 samples purchased and submitted for analysis,
13 were found to be adulterated. (See list infra.) Six prosecutions
and six convictions were obtained. The remaining adulterated samples,
seven in number, were unofficial or "test" samples.
Milk Blended Butter.—A vendor was found to be selling milk
blended butter under a name not registered. Summary proceedings
were taken, and a fine of 10s. and 12s. 6d. costs was inflicted.
Three samples of bread and butter were taken and found to be
genuine.
Rice.—In 42 samples of rice, 8 were found to contain powdered
talc:—14, 11*9, 9'8, 9*8, 7, 6'3, 6-3 and 2-8 grains per lb. The vendors'
attention was called to the result of the analyses, and cautioned.

Table: Sausages, Meat Pies, &c.—Samples were taken during 1915 of sausages, meat pies, &c., as shown in the list printed above.

Sausages, Meat Pies, &c.—Samples were taken during 1915 of sausages, meat pies, &c., as shown in the list printed above.

Of 47 Meat Pies (Various)4 contained boric acid:—9, 7, 4 2 and 3.5 grains per lb.
Of 5 Brawn1 contained boric acid:—1.7 grains per lb.
Of 61 Sausages (Beef and Pork)9 contained boric acid:—26.7, 20. 15.6, 13.1, 11.9, 11.9, 8.6, 8.3 and 4.9 grains per 11).
Of 3 German Sausages1 contained boric acid:—210 grains per lb. (Sample No. 228 list of prosecutions.)

Text

Copy text to clipboard

Potted Meat.—111 56 samples of potted meats 9 were found to
contain preservative to the amount of 23, 21.4, 18.9, 7, 6.5, 6.l, 6, 4.3
and 3.5 grains per lb. respectively.
Fish.—Twelve samples of fish (potted and tinned) were examined.
One sample of bloater paste contained 2.8 grains boric acid per lb., and
one sample of smoked cod's roe contained 1.7 grains of boric acid per lb.
Beans.—In 3 samples of beans (tinned), 2 were found to contain
copper sulphate to the extent of 1.1 and .4 grains respectively.