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

Stepney 1938

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]

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74
Table B shows the number of samples taken under the Act with the
percentage of adulteration, and also the total number of samples examined
during the past ten years.

Table: Table B.

Table B.

Year.Samples taken under the Act.Number Adulterated.Percentage Adulterated.Bact. Examinations.Miscellaneous Samples.Total Samples.
19291,537634.1-721,609
19301,518352.31831,602
19311,488432.9461731,707
19321,5464831381851,769
19331,513372.4201121,645
19341,614744.6—1111,725
19351,6301398.5—1091,739
19361,5751257.9—2411,816
19371,5441348.7—1621,706
19381,5861076.7—1521,738

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Of the samples taken under the Act 1,459 consisted of foods and of these
90, or 6.2 per cent., were adulterated ; of the remaining 127 samples consisting
of drugs 17, or 13.4 per cent., were adulterated.

Table: Legal Proceedings.—Offences were committed in 117 cases. These were dealt with as shown below:—

Legal Proceedings.—Offences were committed in 117 cases. These were dealt with as shown below:—

Adulterated.Other offences.Total.
FormalProceedings271037
Caution20—20
No action2—2
Informal58—58
10710117

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Fines and costs totalled £156 17s. 6d.
Milk .—886 samples of milk were analysed. Of these 13, or 1.5 per cent.,
were adulterated. Only 3 of the adulterated samples were watered.
Table C shows the number of samples of milk examined and the percentages
of adulteration during the last ten years.

Table: Table C.

Table C.

1929.1930.1931.1932.19331934.1935.1936.1937.1938.
Number of samples.9239008819749281005965984890886
Percentage of adulteration.8.9223.026224.67.78.67.51.5

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The year shows a great decrease in the percentage of adulteration.
This is the result of the successful use of the freezing point method in the
previous year.