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
East Ham 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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119
(3) Food and Drugs Adulteration. Samples of foodstuffs and
drugs, submitted for analysis to the Public Analyst, numbered
498 or 3.7 samples per thousand of population. Of the number,
176 samples were taken formally and 322 informally. Fifteen
samples were reported upon adversely, 8 being in respect of milk.
In four instances the deficiency of milk fat was observed in an
institution belonging to the Council, but subsequent formal
samples proved genuine. A sample of bread was found to contain
glass but upon investigation no evidence could be obtained as to how
such glass had gained entrance to the loaf. Details of the samples
taken, and adulterations are included in the following tables :—
| Number of Samples. | Percentage samples adulterated. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Examined. | Found adulterated or below standard. | ||
| Bread | 1 | — | — |
| Butter | 20 | — | — |
| Cheese | 2 | — | — |
| Cocoa | 6 | — | — |
| Coffee | 3 | — | — |
| Confectionery | 28 | — | — |
| Jam and Marmalade | 16 | — | — |
| Cream | 6 | — | — |
| Flour | 1 | — | — |
| Lard | 4 | — | — |
| Margarine | 4 | — | — |
| Milk | 185 | 8 | 4 |
| „ Condensed and Dried | 1 | — | — |
| Sausage | 23 | 1 | 4 |
| Sugar | 3 | — | — |
| Tea | 5 | — | — |
| Vinegar | 10 | — | — |
| Wines, Spirits | 3 | — | — |
| Drugs | 28 | — | — |
| Other Articles | 149 | 6 | 4 |
| 498 | 15 | 3 | |
Details of samples adulterated or below standard are
described as follows, together with the resultant action:—