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
Holborn 1924
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn, Metropolitan Borough]
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41
From records kept in twenty of the purchases where the fat exceeded 4 per
cent, it was found that generally the milk was stirred with a hand measure before
serving. It is possible that even distribution of the milk fat is not secured in
(his way and that the use of efficient plungers would secure this end. On the
other hand, when there is reason to believe that milk is properly plunged an
analysis has shown the presence of over 4 per cent, of fat.
But to my knowledge analyses of the contents of individual churns show
that the percentage of fat in very many is considerably above 3 per cent. In some
the fat contents of the milk were over 4 per cent.
The following table shows the average composition of milk samples purchased during each month of 1924:
| Number of Samples examined. | Total Solids, per cent, average. | Solids Non-fat. Per cent, average. | Fat. Per cent, average. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20 | 12.68 | 9.04 | 3.64 | |
| February | 20 | 12.64 | 8.93 | 3.71 | |
| March | 20 | 12.46 | 8.84 | 3.62 | |
| April | 20 | 12.33 | 8.8l | 3.52 | |
| May | 24 | 12.42 | 8.86 | 3.56 | |
| June | 20 | 12.43 | 8.93 | 3.50 | |
| July | 18 | 12.37 | 9.01 | 3.36 | |
| August | 20 | 12.24 | 8.77 | 3.17 | |
| September | 20 | 12.55 | 8.85 | 3.70 | |
| October | 20 | 12.80 | 8.92 | 3.88 | |
| November | 5 | 13.18 | 8.98 | 4.20 | |
| December | 10 | 12.88 | 8.90 | 3.98 | |
| Whole year | 217 | 12.58 | 8.90 | 3.68 | |
| Legal Minimum | 11.50 | 8.50 | 3.00 | ||
It will be seen that the seasonal variations are not very marked; the highest
percentage of fat was in November and the lowest in July. From this, as well as the
figures given above, it would seem that the legal minimum for fat. in milk is too low.
The regulations issued in 1923 respecting condensed milk and dried milk prescribe
that the equivalent of fat must be calculated on a 3'6 per cent, basis, and it seems
reasonable to suggest that the legal minimum for ordinary milk should be raised.