Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond]
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TABLE 27. —FOOD SAMPLING.
The following table shows the results of examinations made of samples procured during the year.
Articles. | Number Analysed. | Number Irregular | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Formal | Informal | Total | Formal | Informal | Total | |
Cereal | 2 | — | — | — | ||
Bread and Rolls | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Butter | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Creams and Cream Products | — | 13 | 13 | — | 1 | 1 |
Cheese | — | 3 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 |
Drinks | 1 | 12 | 13 | — | _ | — |
Flour and Flour Mixtures | _ | 3 | 3 | — | _ | — |
Fruit and Vegetables | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — |
Meat and Meat Products | — | 41 | 41 | — | 1 | 1 |
Medicinal Preparations | — | 12 | 12 | — | — | |
Milk and Milk Products | — | 9 | 9 | — | 1 | 1 |
Pickles and Sauces | _ | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Sweets ... | — | 14 | 14 | — | — | — |
Totals | 2 | 120 | 122 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
The irregular samples were : —
(1) English Sterilised Cream: contained 21.7 per cent milk fat
instead of the statutory minimum content of 23 per cent.
Investigation showed that the manufacturers exercise efficient
sampling control and that all batches of cream conformed
to statutory requirements; the sample in question seems to
have been only an isolated occurrence.
(2) Buttered Rolls : two samples related to the use of margarine
instead of butter; the proprietor of the business gave an
undertaking not to use margarine on the premises in future
and the Council decided, in this instance, not to take legal
proceedings.
(3) Beef Sausages : the sample contained a preservative permitted
by law but no notice of the presence of the preservative was
given at the time of sale : the butcher arranged for a suitable
notice to be displayed and no further action was taken.
(4) Welsh Rarebit : the sample contained excessive rusk and the
manufacutrers decided to discontinue making the product.
(5) S.M.A. Skimmed Milk : the irregularity arose because the
sample was purchased in liquid form and the statutory
standard referred only to the powdered product; amending
regulations are being made to include the liquid product.
34