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 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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SAMPLING OF FOOD AND DRUGS
HEAT TREATED MILK
The Milk (Special Designation) (Pasteurised and Sterilised Milk) Regulations 1949 to 1953:-
Particulars are given below regarding the various types of heat treated milk which were sampled during the year and submitted to the appropriate tests.
| Type of Milk | Number sampled | Results of Examination | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphatase Test | Methylene Blue Test | Turbidity Test | |||||
| Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | ||
| Pasteurised | 51 | 51 | Nil | 51 | Nil | - | - |
| Pasteurised (from schools) | 10 | 10 | Nil | 10 | Nil | — | — |
| Tuberculin Tested (Pasteurised) | 26 | 25 | 1 | 26 | Nil | - | - |
| Sterilised | 45 | - | - | - | - | - | Nil |
| TOTAL | 132 | 86 | 1 | 87 | Nil | 45 | Nil |
The cause of the one failure of the Phosphatase test was traced to a mechanical fault
at the pasteurising plant outside the Borough.
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ANALYST
(By Albert E.Parkes, F.I.C., F.C.S.)
During the year 501 samples were examined under the Food and Drugs Act, 136 formal and
365 informal.
All samples were submitted by the Inspectors.
7 samples were found to be adulterated, 1 formal and 6 informal.
The adulteration was at the rate of l.4 per cent.
The adulteration in the Borough for the past five years was as follows:-
| Year | Number of Samples | Percentage Adulteration |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 501 | 1.4 |
| 1952 | 502 | 1.0 |
| 1951 | 819 | 0.7 |
| 1950 | 1039 | 1.2 |
| 1949 | 1034 | 0.7 |
| Average | 779 | 1.0 |
108 samples of milk were examined, 103 formal and 5 informal.
One sample was found to be adulterated.
The milk adulteration in the Borough for the past five years was as follows:-
| Year | Number of Samples | Percentage Adulteration |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 108 | 0.9 |
| 1952 | 101 | 0.0 |
| 1951 | 151 | 0.0 |
| 1950 | 188 | 2.1 |
| 1949 | 186 | 1.6 |
| Average | 146 | 0.9 |