Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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Article | Informal or Formal Sample | Nature of adulteration or irregularity | Action |
---|---|---|---|
*Bread | Informal | Comprised baked in the bread a small dark brown, elongated foreign body composed of a mixture of grease, flour, sawdust, rust and fragments of poppy seeds. | A letter of warning was sent to the bakers of the bread. |
Butter | Informal | Consisted of three 80z. blocks of butter, each of which showed evidence of attack by mice. | A thorough investigation was carried out by a Public Health Inspector who advised on measures necessary for Rodent Control. As all these measures have been undertaken by the merchant concerned no further action was considered necessary. |
*Cheese | Informal | The cheese was stale and unsuit-unsuitable for sale. | Appropriate representations made to the manager of the public house from where the cheese was purchased. |
Cake/Pastry *Blackcurrent and Apple Pie | Informal | Contained baked in the pie a five inch length of human hair. | A letter of warning was sent to the manufacturer concerned. |
*Fresh Cream Slice | Informal | The cream was souring and undergoing decomposition. | A cautionary letter was sent to the retailer. |
Cream Slices | Informal | The slices were filled with an imitation cream made from emulsified fat, sugar and water. | The cakes were mistakenly labelled in the tray. Appropriate representations were made to the retailer concerned. |
*Danish Pastry | Informal | Contained embedded in the pastry a gritty brown mass composed of sand, minerals and lime, similar to mortar. | A letter of warning was sent to the retailer and manufactuer concerned. |
*Souflette Sponge | Informal | The cake was mouldy, rancid and unfit for human consumption. | Legal proceedings were instituted against the Caterer concerned. The defendant pleaded guilty and was fined £20 plus £8 costs. |
Fish * Kipper fillets | Informal | The kippers had an unpleasant, stale smell and were not fit for consumption. | Appropriate representations were made to the retailer and the wholesaler whose premises were within the City. Written representations were also made to the manufacturers whose premises were outside the City. |
Shrimps, canned | Informal | The can was only half filled with liquor, suggesting a fault in the canning. The shrimps were badly broken up and had a strong "fishy" taste; although not necessarily unfit for consumption they were below normal quality and were unappetizing. | Details of the Analyst's findings were sent to the Importers. Further subsequent samples were found to be satisfactory. |
Fruit Dried Figs | Informal | The figs had been attacked and contaminated by mice, mites and insects. | The whole consignment was disposed of for animal food. |
Stuffed Olives | Informal | The proportion of acetic acid (0.5) was insufficient to prevent decomposition and the sample rapidly deteriorated after being opened. | The attention of the supplier has been brought to the remarks of the Public Analyst. |
California Prunes | Informal | Contained mineral hydrocarbon 0.25, the presence of which was not disclosed on the label. | The matter was brought to the attention of the packers who agreed to have present and future stocks re-labelled so as to conform with the Regulations. |
Choc Ice Bars | Informal | The sample has a slight, unpleasant smell of stale fat suggesting storage in a contaminated refrigerator. | An investigation indicated that the storage arrangements were unsatisfactory. Suitable advice was given as to the proper storage of this commodity. |