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
Stepney 1928
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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Table A shows the nature of the samples taken under the Food and Drugs Acts, and gives the numbers and percentages found to be adulterated.
Table A.
| Number of Samples. | Number Genuine. | Number Adulterated. | Percentage Adulterated. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | 923 | 885 | 38 | 4.1 |
| Butter | 164 | 150 | 14 | 8.5 |
| Margarine | 148 | 148 | — | — |
| Vinegar | 23 | 17 | 6 | 26.1 |
| Cream | 20 | 20 | — | — |
| Coffee | 19 | 19 | — | — |
| Sausage | 12 | 12 | — | — |
| Ginger | 11 | 5 | 6 | 54.5 |
| Condensed Milk | 10 | 10 | — | — |
| Zinc Ointment | 10 | 9 | 1 | 10.0 |
| Sponge Cake | 9 | 9 | — | — |
| Pepper | 9 | 9 | — | — |
| Epsom Salts | 9 | 9 | — | — |
| Glycerine | 9 | 9 | — | |
| Purified Borax | 9 | 9 | — | — |
| Camphorated Oil | 7 | 7 | —' | — |
| Milk Sugar | 7 | 7 | — | — |
| Flour | 6 | 6 | — | — |
| Dried Milk | 6 | 6 | — | — |
| Glauber's Salt | 6 | 6 | — | |
| Fruit Wines | 6 | 6 | — | - |
| Boric Ointment | 6 | 6 | - | — |
| Jam | 6 | 6 | — | |
| Tincture of Iodine | 6 | 6 | — | — |
| Cream of Tartar | 6 | 6 | — | — |
The number of samples found to be adulterated was 68 or 4.5 per cent.
Table B shows the number of samples analysed and the number found to
be adulterated during the past ten years.
Table B.
Year.
Number of
Samples.
Number
Adulterated.
Percentage
Adulterated.
1919
1,175
70
6.0
1920
1,190
55
4.6
1921
1,402
86
6.1
1922
1,417
78
5.5
1923
1,398
27
1.9
1924
1,456
45
3.1
1925
1,378
44
3.2
1926
1,341
37
2.8
1927
1,292
42
3.3
1928
1,528
68
4.5