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
Haringey 1967
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Haringey]
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| (b) A sample of Cyprus Rose Water contained a Colouring matter, Rhodamine B,which is not in the permitted list. | Matter referred to local authority responsible for area in which distributors premises situated | |
| (c) Four flavoured powders contained a sweetener, cyclamate, which was not permitted at time of sale but is now allowed. | No action taken. | |
| Drugs | (a) 2 samples of multivitamins failed to comply with disintegration test. | In correspondence with manufacturers. Statement to be included on label that preparation was intended for chewing. |
| (b) A sample of multivitamins contained insufficient vitamin B and calcium to substantiate the claims made on the label. | In correspondence with manufacturers. | |
| (c) In two samples of drugs one was coloured with Blue VRS and the other with Poncean SX. New regulations prohibit these colouring matters in food and it is considered they should therefore not be used in drugs. | Manufacturers requested to use colouring matters which have been approved by Dunlop Committee on Safety of Drugs. |
(b) Labelling
The following labelling irregularities, noted in respect of nineteen samples, were brought to the
attention of the manufacturers or distributors responsible.
1. Alcohol declaration not prescribed 1/12" height 6 cases
2. Alcohol declaration not conspicuous or legible 1 case
3. No address on label 3 cases
4. Incorrect or misleading description 10 cases
5. No list of ingredients 1 case
6. Use of generic and meaningless terms 1 case
Food Complaints
110 food complaints received in 1967 were fully investigated and, where appropriate, legal
proceedings were instituted or warning letters sent. The most common causes of complaint were the
presence of foreign bodies in foodstuffs, and the growth of moulds due to improper storage or the sale
of perishable foodstuffs after their safe life had expired. Traders are repeatedly advised on the need for
the date coding of such foods so that proper stock rotation can be ensured and goods withdrawn from
saleat the end of their recommended storage life. Details of the complaints received and action taken
are set out below.
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