London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Barnes 1953

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barnes]

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Table 17.—Sampling of Other Foods and Drugs.

(a)Chemical Analysis.—76 Samples procured under the provisions of the Food & Drugs Act, 1938, included:—

Foods.
Barker's Extra SavouryMarmalade
Beef Sausage MeatMarzipan Chocolates
Breakfast SausageMarzipan
Coconut in SyrupMeat Soup
Cream of Chicken SoupMilk Pudding "Ambrosia"
Chicken Noodle SoupMint Jelly
Celery SoupMixed Fruit Drops
Coloured EggsPork Sausages
Custard PowderRandall's Milk Chocolate
Cake Flour with EggsRaspberry Jelly de Luxe
CreamRich Christmas Pudding
Fruit Gums"Ribena" (1 bottle)
Fruit DropsSandwich Spread
Gee's Linctus B.P.C.Spearmint Wafers
Garden Mint in VinegarStewed Steak
Garden PeasStoned Dates
Glucose Fruit DropsSweetened Afternoon Tea Cakes
GinSweets
Halibut Liver Oil CapsulesTomatoes
HoneyVeal and Ham Paste
Irish Mince MeatWelsh Rarebit
Kidney SoupWhisky
Lemon CurdWhite Pepper
Liver SausageWine Gums
Malt Vinegar

The following samples were reported as being sub-standard or otherwise
irregular:—
Sample No. 25—Halibut-Liver Oil Capsules.
These capsules contained 6050 units of vitamin A per capsule. The
standard of the British Pharmaceutical Codex for the vitamin A content of
Capsules of Halibut-liver Oil is 3750 units to 5250 units in each capsule.
These capsules therefore contained 15% more vitamin A than the maximum
permitted by the B.P.C.
The question of the content and labelling of this article was taken up with
the manufacturers, and it is confidently expected that suitable modification
will be effected. There is no appreciable risk to consumers.
Sample No. 4—Malt Vinegar
Contained 0.9% of added salt which is not a natural ingredient of malt
vinegar.
Sample No. 27—Gee's Linctus G.P.C.
Weight per ml. at 20° C. slightly in excess of B.P.C. maximum.
The weight per ml. of this sample was 1.192 g. whereas the B.P.C. limits
are 1.175-1.185 g. in the opinion of the Public Analyst the reason for the
higher weight per mil. of this sample was the presence of a slightly higher
proportion of total sugars than is normal in this medicament. In other respects
the sample conformed with the standard.
The attention of the vendor was drawn to the result of the analysis of
this sample. As a result the remaining stock was withdrawn from sale, and
fresh supplies will be closely checked.