London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Marylebone 1912

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]

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SUMMARY.

Number of Samples Analysed.Number Adulterated.
1st Quarter25411
2nd „2758
3rd „2583
4th „3069
Total1,09331

REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ANALYST, 1912.
During the year 1912, 1,093 samples were submitted for analysis, of these,
only 31 were certified as adulterated—not quite 2.9 per cent. This shows a
remarkable decrease compared with the samples taken in 1911—in that year 69
samples out of 1,111, were found wrong, or 6.2 per cent., and as the same kind of
samples were taken in both years, it is fair to say that there was a little more than
double the adulteration in 1911, as compared with 1912.
The samples comprise: dairy produce, condiments, saccharine substances,
canned goods, non-alcoholic beverages, farinaceous foods and drugs, but not a single
sample of wine, beer or spirits.
Of these dairy produce accounts for 89 per cent.
Milk.—Out of 550 samples, 529 were found to attain or exceed the statutory
limit, that is 3 per cent. milk fat and 8.5 per cent. solids not fat.

The average composition of the unadulterated samples during the three years, 1910,1911 and 1912 was as follows:—

Sp. gr.Milk fat.Solids, not fat.Total solids.
19101031.03.63%8.65%12.28%
19111031.03.70%8.64%12.34%
19121031.53.74%8.77%12.51%

This clearly shows a progressive improvement—in over 20 per cent. of the
samples the milk fat was 4 per cent. or above—hence as a rule excellent milk of far
more than the average quality was supplied to the Marylebone residents during
1912.
In no case was any preservative detected, but artificial colouring of milk is still
prevalent.
Twenty-one of the samples of milk, a little under 4 per cent., were certified as
adulterated.