London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of London 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
This page requires JavaScript
Continued from previous page...
| Article | Nature of Adulteration or Irregularity | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 'Yeoman' | Consisted of Mashed Potato Mix, inadequately labelled, the common or usual name of the food not being specified. | The manufacturers, of this product were informed that it was incorrectly labelled. New Labels have now been supplied which conform with the Labelling of Food Regulations. |
| Creamed Potatoes | The sample consisted of a dry mixture of cooked and powdered potatoes containing no cream, butter or milk. The description "Creamed Potatoes" was considered inappropriate when applied to a product which contained no cream and was not even of a creamy consistency. | The manufacturer of this product was informed that it was incorrectly labelled. New labels have now been supplied which conform with the Labelling of Food Order. |
| *Chips | The potato chips included several particles of other cooked foods, comprising — 1 piece of bread from a cut slice, 2 particles of ham, 3 pieces of ham fat, 6 small particles of salmon. | A letter of warning was sent to the Caterer concerned by the Corporation's Legal Officer. |
| De Dijon Moutarde | Contained sulphur dioxide, 110 parts per million, the presence of which was not disclosed on the label. | A letter was sent to the suppliers of the food requesting them to ensure that future supplies conform with the Labelling of Food Order. |
| Vinegar | Contained ten small dead flies identified as Drosophila funebris, the Vinegar Fly. | A letter of caution was sent to the Company concerned. |
| Medium Dry Wine | Consisted of a golden coloured wine of 24° proof. The description did not appear to constitute an "appropriate designation" as required by the Labelling of Food Order. | A letter was sent to the Company concerned requesting them to ensure that future supplies conform with the Labelling of Food Order. |
| "Bio-Strath" | The preparation was recommended as a aid in the trea'ment of illness and convalescence, and to contain vitamins and minerals of which a large number were specified on the label. Determinations of six of these constituent: however, showed that the daily dosage amounted to far less than the normal bodily requirement of such vitamins and minerals, the fractions ranging from 1/200th to l/20th, and the label was consequently considered misleading. | On the advice of the Corporation's Legal Officer it was decided that it was impracticable to initiate legal proceedings. |
All the samples were of an informal nature and those marked *were examined as a result of a complaint
by members of the Public.
28