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
Kingston upon Thames 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]
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| Marmalade | Misleading label. The size of print used to claim the presence of Cointreau was unduly prominent considering the proportion of liqueur present. The sample contained Alcohol 0.23 per cent. proof spirit. | Matter raised with manu-turers - correspondence not yet concluded. |
| Chocolate Top Sandwich | Misleading title. The article contained no cocoa butter. The sample contained: Total vegetable fat - 0.4 per cent. | Agreed with manufacturers that 'Chocolate flavour top sandwich' would be acceptable but the retailer gave instructions to sales staff not to label any cakes. |
| Cherry Cough Linctus | Incorrectly described. The sample contained no extract of wild cherry baric. | Discussed with the manufacturers who have amended the design of the pack but objection is taken to the wording on this package. Correspondence not yet concluded. |
| Dressed Crab 2 samples. | Misleading description. The sample consisted of a soft paste of highly-comminuted crab meat, with starch filler, salt, spice and colour not usually described as "Dressed Crab". | Taken up with the importers and canners who pointed out that 'Dressed Crab" was recognised under the Fish and Meat Spread-able Products Regulations 1968. Since these products are clearly pastes and yet the manufacturers are not prepared to label them as such, one can only conclude that they feel that by giving a more accurate description of the product this would affect its saleability. |
Dressed Crab
2 samples.
Misleading description.
The sample consisted of
a soft paste of highlycomminuted
crab meat,
with starch filler, salt,
spice and colour not
usually described as
"Dressed Crab".
Taken up with the importers
and canners who
pointed out that 'Dressed
Crab" was recognised under
the Fish and Meat Spreadable
Products Regulations
1968. Since these
products are clearly
pastes and yet the manufacturers
are not prepared
to label them as such, one
can only conclude that they feel that by giving a more
accurate description of the product this would affect
its saleability.
Dressed crab is a culinary description given to crab
prepared for the table and whilst part of the separated
crab meat is often mixed with mayonnaise and seasoned
it is not minced or highly comminuted.
In my opinion the Regulations are being used as an
excuse to degrade a well recognised article and one
can only hope that they will be amended so as to
require the inclusion of the word "paste" in the
description of dressed crab.