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 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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containing thiourea, and a further 25% of the total were sausages, containing excess of the
preservatives allowed by the Preservatives Regulations, which is 450 p.p.m, of sulphur
dioxide. The 1955 figure also revealed that sausages comprised 25% of the total adulteration
as in 1954 for the same reason, and 37% was accounted for by analytical confirmation of unsound
foodstuffs. The figure of 1.7% for 1956 is below the average of 2.3% for the past 5 years and
well below the figures for 1954 and 1955.
In 1957 the percentage rose sharply to 3.3$, again largely due to items outside the
normal definition of adulteration, but in 1958 it fell slightly to 3-0$. Details of the 10
adulterated samples are given hereunder
UNSATISFACTORY FOOD & DRUGS SAMPLES - 1958
| Identification from No. given in Quarterly Report | Result of Analysis | Type of sample | Remarks and action taken |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Banana Flavouring | Contained no banana flavour. | Formal | Further sample taken. |
| 9 Apples | Contained ah excess amount of arsenic and lead, namely 7 PPm arsenic and 10 ppm lead. | Informal | Stock withdrawn by vendor. |
| 31 Lebanon Apples | Contained an excessive amount of arsenic and lead, namely 18 ppm arsenic and 20 ppm lead. | Informal | Stock withdrawn by vendor. |
| 39 Banana Flavouring | Contained no banana flavour. | Formal | Reported to March Health Committee. See Report on Legal Proceedings taken. |
| 71 Pineapple Flavouring | Contained no pineapple flavour. | Informal | Satisfactory formal sample taken later. |
| 125 Milk | Contained a foreign body, namely a piece of steel wool. | Informal | Legal proceedings taken against vendor. |
| 148 Beef Sausage | Contained S02 the presence of which was not declared. | Informal | Vendor interviewed and cautioned. |
| 151 Pork Sausage Meat | Contained S02 the presence of which was not declared. | Informal | Letter sent to vendor -caution. |
| 170 Pork Sausages | Contained 496 PPm SO2, being 46 ppm in excess of the amount allowed. Also the presence of the preservative was not declared. | Informal | Vendor interviewed and cautioned. |
| 171 Pork Sausage | Contained S02 the presence of which was not declared. | Informal | Vendor interviewed and cautioned. |