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
Stoke Newington 1909
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stoke Newington, The Metropolitan Borough]
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TABLE C.—
| No. | Sample Analysed. | Opinion Formed. | Action Taken. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 140 | Margarine | Genuine | Nil. |
| 141 | Butter | „ | „ |
| 142 | Seidlitz Powders | „ | „ |
| 143 | Flour | „ | „ |
| 144 | Coffee | „ | „ |
| 145 | Butter | „ | „ |
| 14C | Oatmeal | „ | „ |
| 147 | Seidlitz Powders | „ | „ |
| 148 | Sweets | „ | „ |
| 149 | Coffee | „ | „ |
| 150 | Margarine | „ | „ |
| 151 | Butter | „ | „ |
| 152 | Coffee | „ | „ |
| 153 | Lard | „ | „ |
| 154 | Pepper | „ | „ |
| 155 | Butter | „ | „ |
| 156 | Seidlitz Powders | „ | „ |
It is a remarkable circumstance that in the four years 1905-1908
the proportion of milk samples reported as adulterated in England and
Wales, has for three of these years stood precisely at the same figure of
10-5 per cent. Whereas the heavier adulteration practised 30 years ago
has practically disappeared, the large number of samples which are
found to be poor and only just reaching the low legal limit of 3 per
cent. of fat, all of which on this account have to be returned as genuine,
clearly indicate that the practice of robbing good average milk (containing
nearer 4 per cent. of fat) of a large part of its cream, is very general
and probably on the increase.
From the Annual Report of the Local Government Board for
1908-1909, attention is drawn to the fact that, throughout the country,
in 137 instances the fines inflicted did not exceed 2s. 6d. Yet
Magistrates surely realise that the adulteration of food is such a
profitable fraud that nothing short of substantial fines can have the
effect of materially reducing it!
In the same Annual Report of the Local Government Board attention
is drawn to the fact that a practice has recently sprung up of selling