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IMPORTED TEA
Tea destined for City Wharves is allowed forward through the Port of London for examination
by the City Food Inspector at the tea warehouses.
During the year 1,503 samples were examined by the Public Analyst of which 5 or 0.3% were
adversely reported upon for excessive lead content.
Although there is no statutory limit for lead content of foods, the Food Standards Committee
in their report on the subject recommended a limit of 10 parts per million of lead in tea, and this
recommendation has been provisionally accepted in the absence of any other guide.
The five samples referred to related to three shipments:—
260 chests Formosa 'Black Tea. lead content 55 ppm, 60 ppm, 60 ppm.
30 x ½ chests Indonesia Tea fannings. " 18 ppm.
200 chests Indonesia Tea " 13 ppm.
In each instance acceptable arrangements were made for blending with lead-free teas in such
proportion that the lead content of the blended tea was considerably less than the recommended
limit.
This Report is a record of many and varied activities of which the City Health Service may
well be proud, including the newer developments like the arrangements for the diagnosis and
treatment of ophthalmic conditions and of cancer diagnosis. Success in our work has been
facilitated by the active encouragement of the Chairman and Members of the Committee as well
as of other members of the Corporation who take a special interest and by the co-operation of
business firms, trade interests, the general public and where appropriate, of other departments
of the Corporation. This is a welcome opportunity of expressing thanks to everyone concerned.
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