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
Islington 1922
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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1922]
56
During the year under review (1922), the campaign against this group of milk vendors was continued, with the following results:
| Date of Hearing. | Samples marked. | Result of Analysis. Offence. | Result of Prosecution. |
|---|---|---|---|
| (1922) | |||
| 22nd February | G | No name and address on cart | Fined £1 1s. |
| 22nd | — | „ „ | Defendant absconded. |
| 3rd March | 349 | Skimmed milk coloured with annatto. | Fined £7 and £1 1s. costs. |
| 3rd „ | 395 | „ „ „ | Fined £1 and £1s. costs. |
| 3rd „ | 432 | „ „ „ | „ „ |
| 3rd „ | 418 | „ „ „ | „ „ |
| 3rd „ | 479 | „ „ „ | „ „ |
| 3rd „ | 351 | „ „ „ | Fined £4 and £1 1s. costs. |
| 3rd „ | 352 | „ „ „ | Defendant absconded to New Zealand. |
| 3rd „ | 393 | „ „ „ | Fined £4 and £l 1s. costs. |
| 3rd „ | 403 | „ „ „ | „ „ |
| 3rd „ | 396 | „ „ „ | „ „ |
| 3rd „ | 482 | „ „ „ | „ „ |
| 15th „ | 428 | „ „ „ | Fined £4 and £2 costs. |
| 15th „ | 428 | „ „ „ | Fined 7s. 6d. |
| 15th „ | 381 | „ „ „ | „ |
| 15th „ | 381 | „ „ „ | Fined £4. |
| 17th „ | 404 | „ „ „ | Fined £5 and £1 1s. costs. |
| 17th „ | 405 | „ „ „ | Fined £2 and £1 1s. costs. |
| 17th „ | 419 | „ „ „ | Fined £5 and £1 1s. costs. |
| 17th „ | 441 | „ „ „ | Fined £2 and £1 1s. costs. |
| 17th „ | 442 | „ „ „ | „ „ |
| 17th „ | 443 | „ „ „ | „ „ |
| 19th May | — | No name and address on vehicle | Fined £2 and £1 1s. costs. |
| 19th „ | 659 | 90 per cent, fat abstracted | Fined £10. |
One defendant admitted in Court that as a general rule all customers who asked
for "a pint" or "a quart" were served with the separated, or mixed milk, while those
who distinctly specified "milk" were served with the genuine article. It also came out
in Court that one man was at the back of the whole concern, and he supplied the milk
in bulk to cach retailer.
GROUP "B."
This group sold mixed milk only, at 6d. per quart. A number of official samples were
purchased, all of which were, with the exception of two, sold as "separated." These two
were sold without any declaration. One proved 79 per cent, deficient in fat, and the other
94 per cent. Proceedings were instituted, and one summons was dismissed under the
Probation of Offenders Act on payment of one guinea costs, and the other summons was
dismissed. Several informal samples were taken, but the purchaser was in every instance
informed that it was "separated" or "skimmed" milk.
This group made their headquarters in an urban district in Middlesex, but they
left the neighbourhood towards the latter end of the year.
GROUP "C."
In this case the vendors were registered in the Borough. They carried both "new"
and "separated" milk, but distinguished with great nicety between the customers who
asked for "milk" and those who did not specify, the former got the "new" and the latter
"separated." A number of official samples were purchased, and all proved to be genuine
on analysis.
The Milk and Dairies (Amendment) Act, 1922, came into force on the
1st September, 1922. This act makes it an offence to mix separated or skimmed milk
with whole milk, and also prohibits the adding of colouring matter. From the experience
of Islington it is needless to say how necessary and opportune the passing of this Act was.-