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 1968
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Haringey]
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| Sample | Irregularity | Comments and action taken |
|---|---|---|
| Meat products | (a) Four samples of sausages failed to declare the presence of permitted sulphur dioxide preservative | The presence of sulphur dioxide must always be declared either by label or by a notice displayed in the shop. Manufacturer warned and is now displaying notice. Manufacturer warned and is now selling a proprietary brand only. Manufacturer warned. A subsequent sample from the same butcher was satisfactory. |
| (b) Sample of pork sausages contained only 62% total meat compared with a reasonable minimum of 65%. (c) Minced beef was found to be stale. |
Labelling
The following labelling irregularities, noted in respect of seven samples, were brought to the
attention of the manufacturers or distributors responsible.
1. Alcohol declaration not prescribed 1/12" in height - 6 cases
2. Incomplete designation - 6 cases
3. Incorrect or misleading descriptions - 4 cases
Food Complaints
Details of the complaints received are shown in the following table.
| Commodity | No. of Complaints | Action taken | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign bodies found | Other reasons | Official warning letter | Prosecution | No formal action justified | |
| Bacon | — | 1 | - | — | 1 |
| Bread | 5 | 9 | 3 | 1 | |
| Butter | 1 | 1 | |||
| Confectionery (flour) | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Confectionery (sugar) | 1 | 2 | 3 | - | - |
| Corned Beef | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 3 |
| Crispbread | 1 | 1 | — | ||
| Crisps | 1 | - | 1 | - | |
| Cheese | 1 | 1 | — | ||
| Fish | 1 | — | 1 | ||
| Frankfurters | — | 1 | — | 1 | |
| Ice Cream | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Instant Whip | 1 | — | 1 | ||
| Meat | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Meat (tinned) | - | 1 | 1 | - | — |
| Meat pies | 1 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
| Medicine | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Milk | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Minerals | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Mushrooms | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Pizza Pie | — | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Plum Pie | — | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Poultry | - | 1 | — | 1 | |
| Sausages | - | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Sugar | - | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| Total | 25 | 44 | 32 | 15 | 22 |