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
Merton and Morden 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
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The following table shows the number and nature of the samples submitted to the Public Analyst in accordance with the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, and his classification of them as genuine or otherwise.
| Bread | 4 | — |
| Butter | 5 | — |
| Fish, potted | 3 | - |
| Meat Pudding | 1 | - |
| Meat, potted | 2 | — |
| Meat, tinned | 5 | — |
| Milk | 31 | - |
| Milk, separated | 1 | — |
| Paste, Fish | 7 | — |
| Paste, Meat | 4 | — |
| Total | 63 | - |
The samples were mainly of foods produced locally and having a sale
outside the Urban District. The Public Analyst issues a quarterly summary
of unsatisfactory samples submitted to him from the many areas he covers
but shortage of staff prevented more time being devoted to this subject
which requires a careful appraisal of the adulteration and sophistication
possible in order to prepare a sampling programme giving adequate
coverage.
A summary of the fat and non-fatty solids contents of the 31 samples of milk taken for chemical analysis is given by the following tables:—
| Solids not fat (Legal standard is 8.5 %) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 8.5 | 8.6 | 8.7 | 8.8 | 8.9 | 9.1 | 9.2 | Total | ||
| — | 5 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 31 | ||
Milk fat (legal standard is 3.0%)
| Less than 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 5.2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 1 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 31 |
Ice Cream. At the end of the year, there were 150 registered retailers
and 4 itinerant vendors. Most of these obtained their supplies from one or
more of eight manufacturers but the making of soft ice-cream on mobile
vehicles continued to increase in extent.
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