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
West Ham 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ANALYST.
(By Albert E.Parkes, F.I.C., F.C.S.)
FOOD & DRUGS ACT. During the year 1951, eight hundred and nineteen samples were
examined under the Food and Drugs Act, three hundred and eighty formal and four hundred
and thirty-nine informal. This is at the rate of 4.7 samples per 1000 of the population.
All samples were submitted by the Inspectors.
No samples were submitted by the Public, under the Act.
Six samples were found to be adulterated, two formal and four informal.
The adulteration was at the rate of 0.7 per cent.
The adulteration in the Borough for the past ten years was as follows-
| YEAR | NO. OF SAMPLES EXAMINED | % OF ADULTERATION |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 819 1 | 0.7 |
| 1950 | 1039 | 1.2 |
| 1949 | 1034 | 0.7 |
| 1948 | 1032 | 1.5 |
| 1947 | 1055 | 0.9 |
| 1946 | 1058 | 0.6 |
| 1945 | 1056 | 1.5 |
| 1944 | 1054 | 0.6 |
| 1943 | 1055 | 1.7 |
| 1942 | 1065 | 1.5 |
| AVERAGE | 1027 | 1.1 |
The milk adulteration in the Borough for the past ten years was as follows:-
| YEAR | NO. OF SAMPLES EXAMINED | % OF ADULTERATION |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 151 | 0.0 |
| 1950 | 188 | 2.1 |
| 1949 | 186 | 1.6 |
| 1948 | 191 | 1.6 |
| 1947 | 198 | 0.5 |
| 1946 | 248 | 0.0 |
| 1945 | 260 | 1.5 |
| 1944 | 269 | 0.0 |
| 1943 | 250 | 1.2 |
| 1942 | 190 | 0.05 |
| AVERAGE | 212 | 0.8 |
One hundred and fifty-one samples of fresh milk were examined, one hundred and twentytwo
formal and twenty-nine informal.
There was no adulteration.
* The decrease in the number of samples taken during 1951 was partly due to a short
interregnum between the retirement of the food & drugs inspector and the appointment of
his successor; and partly due to a decision by the Council to reduce the number of samples
taken. A cautious reduction, it was felt, could safely be made in view of the consistently
low percentage of adulteration found in recent years, and also in the light of the
stringent tests which the large pasteurising firms are accustomed to apply to the milk
which they process and supply. An adequate volume of sampling will be maintained, however,
to provide a proper check on the quality of the food, milk and drugs on sale in the Borough.
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