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
City of London 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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| Date. 1935. | Sample. | Result of Analysis. | Action taken. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 13 | Grapefruit Pulp | The sample contained small white more or less round masses of matter embedded in the pulp, and these were present in very large numbers. Under the microscope they were found to consist of small needle-like crystals, which were soluble in warm water and alcohol, had an extremely bitter taste and had a melting point of 77°C. After hydrolysis with hydrochloric acid the resulting product reduced Fehling's Solution ; the compound is therefore most probably a glucoside produced by some enzyme reaction. Which particular glucoside it is I have not been able to determine up to the present. No preservatives were detected in this sample. | None. | |
| „ 15 | Fish Balls (tinned) | Free from the presence of preservatives and prohibited colouring matter. | None. | |
| „ 15 | " Kaviar " (tinned) | Free from the presence of preservatives and prohibited colouring matter. | None. | |
| „ 15 | Boned Anchovies (tinned) | Free from the presence of preservatives and prohibited colouring matter. | None | |
| „ 15 | Smoked Mackerel in Oil (tinned). | Contained boron preservative equivalent to 21.70 grains of boric acid per pound. | Warning letter to Importer and reported to Ministry of Health. | |
| „ 15 | Tinned Anchovies in Piquante Sauce. | Free from the presence of preservatives and prohibited colouring matter. | None. | |
| „ 15 | Haricot Verts (tinned) | Free from the presence of preservatives and prohibited colouring matter. | None. | |
| „ 15 | Sild (3) | These samples on examination gave the following results:— | None. | |
| Sample | Tin, Grains per pound | |||
| Gong Brand | 0.37 | |||
| We Span Brand | 0.58 | |||
| K.W.G. Brand | 0.42 | |||
| „ 15 | Canned Oysters | Contained 0-08 grains of tin per pound. Free from presence of preservatives. | None. | |
| „ 18 | Brislings in Tomato Sauce | Contained 0-16 grains of tin per pound. | None. | |
| „ 19 | Chocolate | Free from the presence of preservatives, prohibited colouring matter and other deleterious ingredients. | None. | |
| „ 19 | Canned Oranges (4) | These samples on examination gave the following results:— | None. | |
| Sample No. | Tin, Grains per pound. | |||
| 0.62 | ||||
| 2 | 0.75 | |||
| 0.17 | ||||
| 4 | 1.29 | |||
| „ 21 | Canned Crab | The sample contained 0.08 grains of tin per pound. | None. | |
| „ 21 | Canned Oranges | The sample contained 0.96 grains of tin per pound. | None. | |
| „ 21 | Tomato Puree0 | Free from the presence of preservatives, copper and prohibited colouring matter. | None. | |
| „ 21 | Canned Grapefruit (2) | These samples contained 0.17 and 0.33 grains of tin per pound respectively. | None. | |
| „ 21 | Canned Oranges | Contained 0-75 grains of tin per pound. | None. | |
| „ 21 | Sardines (4) | These samples on examination gave the following results:— | None. | |
| Sample No. | Lead, parts per million | |||
| 2 | ||||
| 2 | 4 | |||
| 3 | 3 | |||
| 4 | 2 | |||
| „ 21 | Brisling (in Tomato Sauce) | Free from the presence of preservatives. Contained 0.08 grains of tin per pound. | [ None. | |
| „ 22 | Grape Fruit Juice | Contained 0.52 grains of tin per pound. | None. | |
| „ 26 | Tomato Puree | Free from the presence of copper and aluminium. | None. | |
| „ 26 | Canned Fish (2) .. | Both samples were found to be free from preservatives. | None. | |
| „ 26 | Canned Fish (3) .. | These samples on examination gave the following results:— | ; Consignment re-exported. | |
| Sample | Benzoic Acid, parts per million | |||
| Anchovies in Oyster Sauce | 200 | |||
| Anchovies Sprats | 190 | |||
| Anchovies | 210 | |||