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 1915
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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71
As regards the 14 samples of "Cream" which, on examination, were found to
contain preservative, two were prosecuted and two were cautioned. The results of the
prosecution are shown on page 73.
During the year I drew attention to the fact that in respect of Cream sold as
Cream without preservative no standard is adopted respecting the milk fat content.
No preserved, Cream may contain less than 35 per cent, of milk fat. In certain
instances Cream sterilised, but not containing preservatives, which thickens as a result
of the process and therefore takes on an appearance of undue richness, was found by the
Analyst to contain respectively only 26.9 and 30.5 per cent, of milk fat. In two
instances of Restaurant Cream, not sold as preserved Cream, the percentages of milk
fat showed the low figures of 12.8 and 19.0 respectively.
In unsterilized Cream the average percentage of milk fat in 13 samples was 45.44,
the highest being 51.0, and the lowest 40.2. The difference is striking, and where terms
such as "double thick" or "pure rich" are used one would at least expect the milk fat
to approximate the average found in fresh Cream—certainly the amount should equal
the minimum officially authorised in preserved Cream.
BUTTER.
Very little butter adulteration is discovered. No cases were noted at retail shops, the whole of the defaults being reported from Coffee Houses and the like where bread and butter was asked for. Figures for preceding years are appended.
| Samples purchased under the Act. | Informal Samples. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year. | No. of Samples taken. | Adulterated. | Percentage of Adulteration. | No. of Samples taken. | Adulterated. | Percentage of Adulteration. |
| 1910 | 484 | 7 | 1.4 | — | — | — |
| 1911 | 502 | 9 | 1.7 | 30 | 3 | 10.0 |
| 1912 | 534 | 9 | 1.6 | 29 | 3 | 10.3 |
| 1913 | 404 | 5 | 1.2 | — | — | — |
| 1914 | 317 | 5 | 1.5 | 13 | 6 | 46.1 |
| 1915 | 359 | 5 | 1.4 | — | — | — |
MARGARINE.
Several samples were purchased. No infringements were reported.