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
Sutton and Cheam 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton and Cheam]
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The following details classify the type of infringement reported by the Public Analyst, and the action taken in connection with the five unsatisfactory samples.-
| Sample No. | Article Sampled | Type of Infringement | Action taken |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3495 (Informal) | Pork Sausages | Labelling The sausages contained 120 parts per million by weight of sulphur dioxide. No declaration made or notice to this effect exhibited in the shop. | Manager apparently unaware that the seasoning used contained preservative. Notices now exhibited. |
| 3542 (Informal) | Calamine Cream | Labelling The description of this article as calamine cream implied that it is of B.P.C. standard, whereas it contained far more calamine and zinc oxide than the B.P.C. preparation and is made accordingly to a very different formula | Manufacturer in-informed of infringement and agreed that the labels would be changed when reprinted. |
| 3553 (Informal) | Dehydrated Pepper Flakes | Labelling This article contained 550 parts per million by weight of sulphur dioxide which is within the limit permitted by the Preservatives in Food Regulations, 1962, but is an ingredient and must be specified on the label as such as required by the Labelling of Food Order, 1953. | The importers have now taken the matter up with the American Canners. |
| 3597 (Informalj | Minced Turkey | This article was not of the quality demanded. The lid was rusted on the underside and the surface of the meat underneath the protecting paper disc, contained particles of dark meat and the base of a feather. The bulk of the meat was in a satisfactory condition. | No remaining stock in shop when visited. Retailer warned regarding stock rotation. |
| 3604 (Informal) | Canned Bilberries | Labelling Article should have been des-scribed on the label as "Canned Bilberries in Syrup", and the minimum amount of bilberries in the can should have been not less than 8/4 ozs, whereas the estimated weight was not more than 8 ozs. | The Scottish Canners gave assurance that arrangements were in hand to collect stocks which, through no fault of their own have a low drained weight, as they were filled according to the Canners Association Code of Practise. |
Sampling Observations
It will be seen from the detailed classification that of the two hundred
and twenty three samples taken during the year, the Public Analyst reported
four labelling infringements (1,79%) and one sample for another type of
irregularity (0.45%) making a total of five samples. (2.24%).
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