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
Hillingdon 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hillingdon]
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Environmental Health
91
FOOD AND DRUGS SAMPLING
During the year 222 informal samples and 72 formal samples were submitted to the Public Analyst for examination. They comprised the following:—
| Arrowroot | 1 | Fruit Juice | 6 |
| Baby Food | 3 | Gelatine | 1 |
| Baking Powder | 1 | Honey | 2 |
| Bread | 14 | Ice Cream | 6 |
| Bread and Butter | 1 | Jam | 12 |
| Butter | 1 | Jelly | 1 |
| Buttered Toast | 1 | Margarine | 1 |
| Cake Mixes, etc. | 2 | Meat Products | 20 |
| Canned Fruit | 7 | Milk | 53 |
| Canned Meat and Chicken | 6 | Mineral and natural waters | 1 |
| Canned Shellfish | 3 | Olive Oil | 2 |
| Canned Vegetables | 1 | Pasta | 2 |
| Cereal | 2 | Pickles | 4 |
| Cheese and Cheese Products | 12 | Pie Filling | 2 |
| Cocktail mixture | 1 | Preserved dried fruit | 8 |
| Coffee | 2 | Proprietory medicines | 4 |
| Cooking Oil | 7 | Salad, salad dressing | 5 |
| Cream | 8 | Salt | 1 |
| Curry, Curry Paste, etc. | 2 | Sausages | 6 |
| Drugs | 16 | Shellfish | 4 |
| Fish products | 10 | Skimmed Milk | 1 |
| Flavoured drinks | 10 | Soup | 3 |
| Flavoured spreads | 4 | Stuffing | 1 |
| Flavouring | 1 | Sugar confectionery | 4 |
| Flour confectionery | 6 | Tea | 2 |
| Food colouring | 2 | Vending machine samples | 6 |
| Fresh Fruit and Vegetables | 6 | Wines and Spirits | 6 |
Of the total number submitted, six samples of milk originating from two farms were deficient in
fat, three of the samples being Channel Island milk. The deficiency was not due to adulteration and the
farmers took advice to improve the quality of the milk. Both farms have now discontinued milk production.
Preservative was found to be absent from a sample of Prawn Balchow labelled as containing
preservative. This matter was taken up with the manufacturers.
A sample of Cola and Rum was found to contain 1.2% proof spirit and the Analyst was of the
opinion that a more accurate description would be "Rum Flavoured Cola". The description of the
article was subsequently altered by the manufacturers.
A calcium drink was held to be a food and not a medicine, and was therefore required to conform
to the Artificial Sweeteners Order. This involved replacing the sodium cyclamate by saccharin. The
manufacturers had not appreciated this factor, having consulted the Dunlop Committee on the safety
of drugs before putting the product on the market.
A sample of white coffee with sugar obtained from a vending machine was classed as poor. The
reason was found to be malfunctioning of the machine due to inadequate maintenance. Margarined
toast supplied as buttered toast at a canteen resulted in a successful prosecution.