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
City of London 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
This page requires JavaScript
26
Source (a) accounted for the presence of 1.0 parts per million;
Source (b) accounted for the presence of 0.25 parts per million;
Therefore sources (a) and (b) accounted for the presence of 1.25 parts per million,
or 18.7 parts per million dry weight.
It was therefore agreed that 20 parts per million dry weight should be a reasonable
content in respect of copper present naturally or derived from sprays.
With regard to source (c) it was decided that from 1st January, 1939, consignments
containing more than 50 parts of copper per million of dried total solids should be
rejected, but that eventually a further reduction in this amount would be required.
Trade Representatives and Dr. Macara, of the British Food Manufacturers'
Research Association, called to discuss the matter with Dr. White.
Their suggestions were:—
(a) That until 31st December, 1939, the maximum permissible amount of
copper should be from 80-100 parts per million (dry weight).
(b) That from 1st January, 1940, a new standard, possibly lower than
50 parts per million (dry weight) should be called for.
Results of sampling since the date of that Conference showed:—
| Date. 1938. | Sample. | Copper, parts per million (dry weight). | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 11 | Tomato puree (Hungarian) | 8 | Both from same consignment. |
| „ 24 | Tomato paste | 64 | |
| „ 25 | Tomato puree (Hungarian) | 2 | |
| Mar. 7 | Tomato paste (Italian) | 110 | |
| „ 10 | Tomato puree (Hungarian) | 14 | |
| „ 24 | Tomato puree | 120 | |
| „ 28 | Tomato puree | 85 | |
| „ 28 | Tomato puree | 6 | |
| April 8 | Tomato puree | 78.8 | |
| „ 13 | Tomato puree | 78.8 | |
| „ 13 | Tomato puree | 31.4 | |
| „ 20 | Tomato puree | 90 | |
| July 15 | Tomato paste | 72 | |
| „ 27 | Tomato sauce | 139 | |
| „ 27 | Tomato sauce | 41 | |
| Aug. 17 | Tomato puree (Hungarian) | 27 | |
| „ 17 | Tomato paste | 28 |
A new element of contamination has, however, been discovered by recent analyses of foodstuffs other than tomato puree for copper, thus :—
| Date. 1938. | Sample. | Copper, parts per million (dry weight). |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 28 | Gherkins | 138 |
| Mar. 3 | Runner beans | 450 |
| May 20 | Brisling in tomato | 5 |
| June 11 | Drained cherries | 4.8 |
| Aug. 4 | Drained cherries | 4.6 |
| „ 22 | Beans | 6 |
| „ 29 | Spinach | 16 (Zinc 285 p.p.m.) |
| Sept. 2 | Canned celery | 80 |
| „ 2 | Lettuce hearts | 185 |
| „ 13 | Spinach | 23 (Zinc 15 p.p.m.) |
| „ 13 | Spinach | 67 (Zinc 8 p.p.m.) |
| „ 30 | Haricot beans | 383 |
| Oct. 4 | Haricot beans (3 tins) | 678 average |
This new element of contamination has as its object the fixation of the chlorophyll
by copper in green vegetables, thus producing a bright, fresh colour. In the case of
the runner beans samples examined on the 10th March and 4th October, the copper
content clearly showed added copper and the probable explanation of the arrival of
the consignments in this country with so much copper was due to an error in consignment;
the tins in question were intended for export to countries which permit added
copper.