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

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Barnes 1958

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barnes]

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34
Table 23. — Milk Sampling.
Chemical Analysis.
11 samples of milk were taken and submitted to the Public Analyst for
chemical analysis. These samples, taken from milk roundsmen and local
retailers, proved to be quite satisfactory.

Table 24. — Sampling of Other Food and Drugs. ( a)Chemical Analysis. — 58 Samples procured under the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, included:—

Foods.
BreadSweets
Cakes and ConfectionerySauces
Fruit DrinksSoups
JamsTinned Meat
Medicines„ Fish
Packaged Food Mixes„ Fruit
Pastes

Hereunder I give the Public Analyst's reports on the samples examined
which were found to be irregular or sub-standard. Whilst no legal proceedings
were instituted the matters complained of were taken up with the manufacturers
concerned with satisfactory results:—
Sample No. 168. — Minced Beef and Gravy.
The sample contained meat, including fat, 52 per cent. It is considered
that canned minced beef and gravy should contain not less than 75 per cent
of meat, including fat.
Sample No. 169. — Luncheon Meat.
The sample contained meat, including fat, 69 per cent. Luncheon Meat
should contain not less than 80 per cent of meat, including fat, and, as judged
by this minimum, the sample is deficient in meat to the extent of 13 per cent.
Sample No. 174.—Chopped Chicken.
The sample contained Chicken meat, 77 per cent. An article sold under
the unqualified description Chopped Chicken should contain not less than 95
per cent of chicken meat.
Sample No. 179. — Pork Luncheon Meat.
The sample contained meat, including fat, 67 per cent. Luncheon Meat
is essentially a meat product, and a meat content of only 67 per cent is not
sufficient to justify the use of the description "Pork Luncheon Meat" for this
article.
In the absence of statutory standards for meat products the question of
the quality of these products will continue to be the subject of controversy
and complaint.
It is evident that labelling provisions are not understood by the average
housewife.