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 1936

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]

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Date. 1936.Sample.Result of Analysis.Action taken.
May 16Shrimp PasteContained four parts of lead per million, and a trace only of tin.None.
„ 16Sardines (3)These samples on examination were found to contain ten, seven and five parts of lead per million, respectively.None.
„ 16Canned Fish (4)These samples on examination gave the following results:—None.
SampleLead, parts per million.
Sild in Tomato3
Sild in Oil1
Sild in Oil1
Kipper Snacks1
In addition the samples were found to contain traces only of tin, and the Sild in Tomato were free from the presence of copper.
„ 21SardinesContained nine parts of lead per million.None.
„ 21Canned PeasFree from the presence of prohibited colouring matter and preservatives.None.
„ 21OrangesFree from the presence of boric acid and foreign colouring matter on the skins.None.
„ 21Tallow (2)These samples on examination gave the following results:—None. id
Sample marked.Free Fatty Acids, expressed as Oleic Ac
(A)0.71%
(B)0.71%
„ 27SardinesContained 17 parts of lead per million.Letter to Importers.
„ 27SardinesContained 7 parts of lead per million.None.
„ 27Canned Fish (5)These samples on examination gave the following results:—None.
SampleLead, parts per millionTin, Grains per pound
Sild in Oil30.4
Ditto30.3
Ditto20.1
Ditto20.1
Dressed Crab1Trace
„ 29SardinesContained 6 parts of lead per million.None.
June 2Blackberry PulpContained 1,268 parts of sulphur dioxide per million.None.
„ 3Vegetable PasteThe sample is probably meant for use as a paste for sticking paper, etc., by mixing with cold water, and the figures obtained are consistent with those that would be given by the treatment of a farinaceous material with caustic soda and subsequently neutralisation with hydrochloric acid, dried and powdered.Letter to Importer.
„ 5Yeast ExtractFree from the presence of arsenic.None.
„ 23SardinesContained 8 parts of lead per million.None.
„ 29SardinesContained 5 parts of lead per million.None.
„ 30SugarThese samples on examination gave the following results :—None.
Sample No.Tin, Grains per pound
l0.21
21.29
30.33
40.83
50.58
„ 30Apricot PulpContained 1,592 parts of sulphur dioxide per million.Result forwarded to Medical Officer of Health of Bermondsey.
July 1SugarThese samples on examination gave the following results :—Warning Letter to Importer.
Sample No.Tin, Grains per pound.
l1.25
20.37
32.13
41.17
51.82
61.83
3Sugar11.04None.