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
Woolwich 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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102
The Public Analyst has furnished the following figures showing the percentage
of fat found in each sample of milk submitted for analysis during the last three
years:—
TABLE No. 53.
| 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5 per cent. and over | 4 | 7 | 8 |
| 4 per cent. and under 4.5 per cent. | 8 | 9 | 11 |
| 3.5 per cent. and under 4 per cent. | 116 | 88 | 102 |
| 3 per cent. and under 3.5 per cent. | 124 | 128 | 146 |
| Below 3 per cent. | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| 255 | 237 | 275 |
The following observations by the Public Analyst, Mr. H. Amphlett Williams,
on the results of certain examinations during the year, are full of interest:—
"The analyses made during the year raised some matters of unusual
importance regarding the purity of food sold in this district.
Tinned Sardines.—Following the detection of appreciable amounts of lead
in sardines last year, further samples were taken, and the presence of lead in
certain brands was again revealed. In the two years, 20 samples of various
brands have been analysed, out of which 7 were found to contain more than
one tenth of a grain per pound, or 14 parts per million of lead.
There is no legal limit for lead in foods; it is, however, obvious that any
comtamination of food intended for human consumption with a poisonous
metal such as lead should be entirely prevented. For administrative purposes,
a figure of one tenth of a grain per pound has been recommended as a maximum
to be permitted. Above this proportion there would appear to be a definite
danger of cases of lead poisoning arising and it seems quite unnecessary with
efficient canning for the lead content to exceed such a figure.
It is noteworthy that all the samples of sardines containing excessive
amounts of lead were of Portuguese origin; in this connection, recent investigation
has shown that the lead is derived, not from corrosion of the soldered
cans, as was formerly supposed, but from the process of cooking.