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
Richmond upon Thames 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond upon Thames]
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| Number Analysed | Number Irregular | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Articles. | Formal | Informal | Total | Formal | Informal | Total |
| Butter, Margarine and Fats | 4 | 2 | 6 | — | — | — |
| Cereals | 2 | 9 | 11 | — | — | — |
| Cream and Cream Products | 1 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — |
| Coffee | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — |
| Drinks and Beverages | 4 | 14 | 18 | — | 2 | 2 |
| Fish and Fish Products | — | 9 | 9 | — | — | — |
| Flavourings and Essences | — | 8 | 8 | — | 1 | 1 |
| Flour Confectionery | 1 | 11 | 12 | — | 1 | 1 |
| Fruit and Vegetables | 4 | 7 | 11 | — | 1 | 1 |
| Health Foods | — | 4 | 4 | — | 1 | 1 |
| Herbs and Spices | 1 | 15 | 16 | 2 | 2 | |
| Ice Cream | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Jams and Marmalades | — | 7 | 7 | — | 1 | 1 |
| Jellies | 1 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — |
| Meat and Meat Products | 8 | 13 | 21 | — | 1 | 1 |
| Medicinal Preparations | — | 7 | 7 | — | — | — |
| Milk and Milk Products | 7 | 15 | 22 | 2 | 2 | |
| Pickles and Sauces | 1 | 12 | 13 | — | 1 | 1 |
| Soups | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Sugar Confectionery | 2 | 8 | 10 | — | — | — |
| Syrups | — | 8 | 8 | — | — | |
| Yeast | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Total | 38 | 161 | 199 | 1 | 13 | 14 |
The irregular samples comprised : —
(a) Carrot Juice.
The manufacturers of this product claimed that the food was a source of Vitamin
A. Such a claim is not justified unless the amount of the food that would ordinarily
be consumed in one day contains at least one-sixth of the daily requirements of the
vitamin and the Public Analyst reported that this product was deficient in Vitamin A.
Representation was made to the manufacturers with the result that the labelling was
altered and the reference to the product being a source of vitamin A was removed.
(b) Honey Kola.
Under the provisions of the Labelling of Food Order, a compound food, for which
there is no statutory standard, should state on its label the appropriate designation of
each ingredient. Unless the quantity or proportion of each ingredient is specified, the
ingredients have to be printed in the order of the proportion in which they are used,
the ingredients used in the greatest proportion being specified first. The label of this
product contravened these requirements as some of the ingredients were not declared
and others were not specified in the order of their proportions. The manufacturers, on
being informed of the contravention, arranged for the re-labelling of the product so as
to comply with the Order.
(c) Pure Almond Milk.
This was a product consisting of a number of ingredients which were not correctly
defined on the label. When the manufacturers were informed of the irregularity they
decided to withdraw stocks and discontinued the sale of the article.
(d) Pork Sausages.
Under the terms of the Preservatives in Food Regulations, sulphur dioxide to the
extent of 450 parts per million is permitted as a preservative in sausages, provided the
sausages are labelled as containing preservative, or a notice to this effect is conspicuously
displayed in the shop. Neither of these requirements was observed at the time of
purchase although the sausages were found to contain preservative. The retailer, on
being informed of this contravention, displayed an appropriate notice in a conspicuous
place in the shop.
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