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
City of London 1906
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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141
Of the 87 samples of butter served upon slices of "bread and butter"
purchased at coffee and eating houses during 1906, it was found that in 12
cases margarine had been used as a substitute for butter.
The following summary shows the amount of this deception that was discovered in the four years 1903.6:—
| Date. | Samples taken. | Cases of substitution. | Percentage of substitution. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | 71 | 19 | 26.7 |
| 1904 | 101 | 12 | 11.8 |
| 1905 | 16 | Nil. | Nil. |
| 1906 | 87 | 12 | 138 |
As to the remaining 241 samples of butter examined during the year, 6, or
2.4 per cent., were certified as adulterated.
REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE BUTTER TRADE.
On the 15th March, 1906, a Select Committee was appointed to consider
whether any, and if so what, legislation is required in order to secure the
better conduct and control of butter and butter substitutes.
The Report was ordered to be printed on the 9th July in the same year,
and states that the Committee met 17 times, and took the evidence of
49 witnesses.
The enquiry embraced the consideration of the following subjects :—
(1) The law relating to trade in butter and butter substitutes.
(2) The trade in butter—
(a) Natural butter.
(b) Blended or factory butter.
(c) Manufacture and sale of milk.blended butter.
(d) Butter mixed with fat not derived from milk.
(e) Milk.blended butter.
(f) Imported butter.
(3) The trade in butter substitutes—
(а) Moisture in margarine.
(b) Manufacture of mixtures.