London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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City of London 1967

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

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SampleSatisfactoryUnsatisfactoryAction
Fish Gravy10
Pate10
Cold Mutton10
Black Pudding10
Ice Cream10
Milk Powder40
Carmine Powder01Salmonella isolated. Goods released to Merchant for processing. Local M.O.H. informed.
Tinned Kangaroo Meat20
Tinned Tripe10
Cooked Chicken Skins10
Cheese10
Custard Powder10
Fried Rice Birds10
Salted Ducks Eggs10
Chinese Preserved Eggs10
Macaroni20
Soup Nuts20
Jugged Hare10
Mussels in Brine10
Smoked Salmon10
Minced Meat10
Luncheon Meat10
Water40
Ice10
Soup10
Edible Birds Nest10
Curried Beef10
Rock Lobster Tails10
Dried Mushrooms10
Butter60

Dr. H. Amphlett Williams, Ph.D (Lond.) A.C.G.F.C., F.R.I.C., F.R.S.H, Public Analyst
for the City of London, has submitted the following:—
THE DETECTION OF ROT IN TOMATO PRODUCTS
In view of the increased attention now being focussed on fungal deterioration of food and of
the obligations imposed upon Public Analysts under S.8. of the Food and Drugs Act, the Imported
Food Regulations and under the. Food Standards (Tomato Ketchup) Order, it may be of interest to
review the methods available for the detection of unsound, unclean or unwholesome tomatoes in
samples of tomato products.
The Howard Mould Count
As a preliminary test a general microscopical examination of the product will normally be
carried out. If the examination reveals much fungus, with hyphae present in every field, the
analyst may be able to make an adverse report without further investigation. If only a few hyphae
are to be seen they may be regarded as natural to the fruit and unobjectionable. But if there
appears to be rather a high proportion of fungus present some criterion will be necessary by which
to judge whether the product had been made from reasonably clean and wholesome tomatoes or
from ones that were partly rotten.
The Howard method,1 in which the percentage of fields containing mould is counted, was
developed in 1908-11 in the u.s. Department of Agriculture for the enforcement of the Food and
Drugs Act 1906. It became a legal Federal Government tolerance in 1916 at 66% fields positive,
was reduced to 50% positive in 1931, and to 40% in 1940, where it has remained until the present
time. In Canada and Australia the limit is 50% positive. In France there are two legal standards,
a 60% maximum for Standard Quality and a 50% maximum for Extra Quality purees.
The Netherlands, the Federal Republic of Germany and Denmark do not have legal standards
for Mould Counts although the test is commonly used as an indicator of the hygienic condition
of tomato products; in Italy the imposition of a legal standard has been under consideration.
In 1958 standards were provisionally approved by the International Permanent Committee on
Canned Foods (the C.I.P.C.) for the physical and chemical properties of Standard Quality and
Extra Quality Tomato Purees, which included Mould Count limits of 60% and 40% positive fields
respectively.
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