London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Malden and Coombe 1942
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Malden & Coombe]
This page requires JavaScript
FOOD AND DRUGS ACT, 1938.
During the year 121 samples were submitted to the Public Analyst for analysis. These comprised the following:—
| Formal. | Informal | Total. | Formal. | Informal | Total. | |
| Flour, Self-raising | 1 | 15 | 16 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Flour, Plain | — | 4 | 4 | — | — | — |
| Milk | — | 25 | 25 | — | — | |
| Tea | — | 8 | 8 | — | — | — |
| Cheese | — | 13 | 13 | — | — | — |
| Butter | — | 6 | 6 | — | — | — |
| Lard | — | 7 | 7 | — | — | — |
| Margarine | — | 5 | 5 | — | 5 | 5 |
| Saccharine | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Baking Powder | — | 5 | 5 | — | 1 | 1 |
| Tonic Wine | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 |
| Pepper | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — |
| Gin | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Jam | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Egg Flakes | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Coffee | — | 3 | 3 | — | — | — |
| Semolina | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Dried Fruits | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Rice | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Curry Powder | — | 9 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Egg Substitute Powder | — | l | 1 | — | — | — |
| Custard Powder Substitute | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Cocoa | — ' | 4 | 4 | — | — | '— |
| Mustard | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Pickles | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Whisky | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | 118 | 121 | 2 | 8 | 10 |
Notes in regard to samples shown as adulterated or deteriorated.
Self-raising flour.—The raising ingredients of this sample
consisted of a mixture of acid calcium ammonium phosphate and
sodium bicarbonate. Due to the fact that the sample was taken
owing to complaint the Ministry of Health was communicated
with but in view of the reply no further action was taken.
Margarine.—Each of these samples contained Boric Acid. The
Public Health (Preservatives in Food) Regulations forbids the
addition of preservatives in Margarine and for this reason the
Public Analyst returned them as being non-genuine. Under the
Emergency Powers (Defence) Regulations, however, the addition
of Borax is permitted under licence by the Ministry of Food. No
action therefore was taken.