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45
Full Fruit Standard. Lower Fruit Standard.
This jam is guaranteed to This jam is guaranteed to
conform to the agreed full fruit conform to the agreed lower fruit
standard of the Food Manufactur- standard of the Food Manufacturers'
Federation. ers' Federation.
•
Twenty-four samples of jam in all were analysed and in 8 instances it was
found that they did not comply with the description shown on the labels. After
considering all the facts of the case the Committee decided not to take proceedings
in the case of the formal samples.
It will be noted also that 5 informal and 7 formal samples of dried mint were
reported as containing foreign leaf, in each case that of the Ailanthus Glandulosa—
the "Tree of Heaven." This adulteration was noted in several areas throughout
the country and proceedings were instituted in some areas. In Woolwich the Public
Health Committee decided to take proceedings against those vendors where the
adulteration was 50 per cent. or more. It appeared from the evidence that the
mint in question had been imported and that the adulteration took place abroad.
It is understood, now that attention has been drawn to this sophistication, that
wholesalers and importers are ensuring by analysis that the dried mint they pack
is what it purports to be.
Food Poisoning.—The London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1932,
requires every medical practitioner in London to notify to the Medical Officer of Health
every person whom he suspects or finds to be suffering from food poisoning. In
his certificate he must state the name, age and sex of the person, the full postal
address and particulars of the food poisoning from which the person is suffering
or suspected to be suffering.
This Act came into force in August, 1932, and during the remaining months of
that year, 56 notifications were received. In 1933 only 45 cases were notified.
This is in accordance with expectation. When a disease is first made notifiable it is
usual for a large number of cases to be notified, but as time goes on cases are not
notified so frequently, principally because medical practitioners forget the condition
is notifiable. Because of this a circular letter was sent to all medical practitioners
in the area, reminding them of the new duty placed upon them.
Of the 45 cases notified, only in one instance, when three people were affected,
did more than one case occur.
The age and sex distribution of the cases notified is shown in the following
Table No. 21