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
Hackney 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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The average composition of the formal milk samples taken in 1930 is shown in the following table in order that a comparison may be made with the standard of genuineness accepted by the Ministry of Agriculture, namely, 3.0 per cent. milk fat and 8.5 per cent. solids not fat:—
| Months. | Number of Formal Samples taken. | Average Composition of all Samples. | Average Composition of Genuine Samples. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of Milk Fat. | Percentage of Solids not Fat | Percentage of Milk Fat. | Percentage of Solids not Fat | ||
| January | 24 | 3.56 | 8.86 | 3.56 | 8.86 |
| February | 36 | 3.83 | 8.85 | 3.83 | 8.85 |
| March | 60 | 3.43 | 8.85 | 3.44 | 8.88 |
| April | 36 | 3.45 | 8.85 | 3.48 | 8.86 |
| May | 48 | 3.38 | 8.84 | 3.40 | 8.84 |
| June | 64 | 3.34 | 8.90 | 3.30 | 8.91 |
| July | 56 | 3.46 | 8.80 | 3.46 | 8.80 |
| August | 24 | 3.50 | 8.81 | 3.50 | 8.81 |
| September | 65 | 3.50 | 8.75 | 3.50 | 8.75 |
| October | 61 | 3.70 | 8.82 | 3.70 | 8.82 |
| November | 86 | 3.77 | 8.89 | 3.77 | 8.89 |
| December | 33 | 3.65 | 8.81 | 3.66 | 8.82 |
| Average | 593 | 3.54 | 8.83 | 3.55 | 8.84 |
It will be seen that the average fat content of the samples
taken in the Borough exceeded the Ministry of Agriculture standard
by no less than 0.54 per cent., notwithstanding the fact that 11 of
the samples taken were adulterated.
Under the Milk and Dairies (Consolidation) Act, 1915, a
purveyor of milk from whom a sample has been taken for analysis
may, within 60 hours after the sample of milk was procured, if he
proposes to establish a warranty defence, request the local authority
to take a sample from a corresponding milking in the course of
transit or delivery to his premises. During 1930 requests for the
taking of samples in course of transit or delivery were received in
four cases. In each case samples were not taken from the wholesalers
as those secured from the retailers had been certified to be of
genuine composition.
Artificial Cream Act, 1929.—This Act is designed to regulate
the manufacture and sale of any substance resembling cream and
containing nothing but the ingredients of cream.
Section 1 (1) provides that no substance shall be sold under a
designation including the word "cream" unless that word is
immediately preceded by the word "artificial."
Section 2 requires that, with certain specified exceptions, all
premises where artificial cream is manufactured or sold must be
registered with the Food and Drugs Authority.
At the end of 1930 two premises were on the register kept in this
connection. At one of these artificial cream is made and sold, and
at the other this substance is sold but not manufactured.