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 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ANALYST FOR 1956.
During the year 411 samples were examined under the Food and Drugs Act, Of these
85 were formal and 326 informal samples.
All samples were submitted by the Inspectors.
Seven samples were found to be adulterated or otherwise unsatisfactory. Two were
formal and five informal samples.
The adulteration was at the rate of 1.7 per cent.
The adulteration in the Borough for the past five years was as follows:-
| YEAR | NUMBER OF SAMPLES | PERCENTAGE ADULTERATION |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 411 | 1.7 |
| 1955 | 502 | 3.2 |
| 1954 | 502 | 4.0 |
| 1953 | 501 | 1.4 |
| 1952 | 502 | 1.0 |
| Average | 484 | 2.3 |
Seventy-five samples of milk were examined, fifty formal and twenty-five informal.
One sample of milk was found to be adulterated, and was in fact deficient in non-
fatty solids.
Investigation showed that the milk had not been adulterated in the generally
accepted sense, but that the deficiency was due to natural seasonal changes in the composition
of fresh milk, there having been no addition of water as might otherwise have been expected.
The milk adulteration in the Borough for the past five years was as follows:-
| YEAR | NUMBER OF SAMPLES | PERCENTAGE ADULTERATION |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 75 | 1.3 |
| 1955 | 96 | 1.0 |
| 1954 | 105 | 0.0 |
| 1953 | 108 | 0.9 |
| 1952 | 101 | 0.0 |
| Average | 97 | 0.6 |
Condensed Milk
One full-cream and three machine skimmed milks were examined. All these were
informal and complied with the Regulations.
Dried Milk
One informal sample of skimmed milk was examined and found to be satisfactory.
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