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147
Food Supplies.
The food supplies of the Borough are exceedingly good. As
1 stated in a former report, probably the fact that East Ham is
within a few miles of the great central Food Markets of London
to some extent accounts for this satisfactory condition.
The standard of living has greatly increased in recent years,
and the demand for a thoroughly good class article has been met
by a great majority of shopkeepers stocking only foodstuffs of
sound and reliable quality.
Four parcels of various goods purchased from retail tradesmen
were condemned, and the purchasers reimbursed on my
certificate. Three wholesale deliveries were also condemned on
submission by the retailer.
The shops and markets are regularly inspected at least one
evening in the week as well as during the day in the district
Inspectors' routine work.
(c) Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act, 1928.
Four hundred and twenty-eight samples were taken under the
above Act, of which 126 were Milk. These were all submitted to
Dr. Bernard Dyer, the Public Analyst for the Borough. Of this
number 37 were taken formally, 32 of which were certified to be
genuine. Details of the five non-genuine samples are as
follows:—
(i) A sample of Milk contained 28 per cent. of added water
and was submitted by a resident who suspected that it had been
adulterated after delivery.
(ii) A sample of Milk showed a deficiency of milk fat to the
extent of at least 20 per cent. Summonses were laid with the
result that the vendor was fined £10.
(iii) A sample of Milk showed a deficiency of milk fat to the
extent of 20 per cent., with the result that the vendor was fined
£2 together with costs and special fees to a total of £5 5s.
(iv) A sample of Minced Meat contained sulphur dioxide to
the extent of 1,500 parts per million. A summons was laid, with
the result that the vendor was fined £2 and 10s. 6d. costs.