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 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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Sophistication of Food
During the year ended 31st December, 1952, 742 samples (i.e., 525 informal
and 217 formal samples) were submitted for analysis to the Public Analyst. Of
these, 31 formal and 18 informal samples were reported to be adulterated or otherwise
not complying with the statutory requirements, giving a percentage of 6.6,
compared with 4.0 in 1951 and 7.1 in 1950. No private samples were examined
during the year.
The following table gives details of adulterated samples:—
| Sample No. | Article. | Formal or Informal. | Result of Analysis. | Result of legal proceedings or other action. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 715 | Confectionery, Jam ' Doughnuts. | Informal | Contained jam, not more than 0.1 per cent., insufficient to justify the description. | Formal sample obtained. |
| 708 | Pork Sausages | Formal | Contained sulphur dioxide, 400 parts per million. The presence of preservative was not declared. | Referred to Ministry of Food. |
| 800 | Pork Sausages | Formal | Contained sulphur dioxide, 50 parts per million. The presence of preservative was not declared. | Referred to Ministry of Food. |
| 703 | Pork Sausages, Preserved. | Formal | Deficient in meat 9 per cent. | Referred to Ministry of Food. |
| 706 | Pork Sausages | Formal | Meat content 58 per cent. | |
| 707 | Pork Sausages | Formal | Meat content 61 per cent. | |
| 747 | Pork Sausage, Preserved. | Formal | Soya bean flour 2 per cent., meat content 58 per cent. | |
| 748 | Pork Sausage | Formal | Meat content 57 per cent. | |
| 749 | Pork Sausage, Preserved. | Formal | Soya bean meal 10 per cent., meat content 45 per cent. | Prosecution by Ministry of Food. Fined £11 and £7 7s. costs |
| 750 | Pork Sausage, Preserved | Formal | Meat content 60 per cent. | Referred to Ministry of Food. |
| 767 | Pork Sausages | Formal | Meat content 54 per cent. | |
| 768 | Pork Sausage Meat | Formal | Meat content 60 per cent. | |
| 769 | Pork Sausages | Formal | Meat content 58 per cent. | |
| 793 | Pork Sausages | Formal | Meat content 61 per cent. | Warning letters sent to the manufacturer and the supplier. |
| 798 | Pork Sausages | Formal | The presence of preservative was not declared. | Legal proceedings instituted. |
| 799 | Pork Sausages | Formal | Meat content 50 per cent. | |
| 757 | Flaked Tapioca | Informal | Consisted of a Tapioca substitute made from potato starch. | Formal sample obtained. |
| 776 | Flaked Tapioca | Formal | Warning letter sent to vendor. |