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Kōrero: Medical research

Making Muriel Bell's rosehip syrup, 1943

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Making Muriel Bell's rosehip syrup, 1943

Muriel Bell, who carried out extensive research into nutrition, was also active in promoting healthy food to the public during the period of wartime shortages. In the 1940s she did regular radio talks and had a column in the New Zealand Listener.

Bell was a strong advocate of rosehip syrup as a source of Vitamin C. The complicated recipe she published drew an entertaining reply from a New Zealand Listener reader, illustrated with this sketch, that pointed out the difficulties involved in following Bell's instructions. Bell had warned that bottle corks might 'be sucked in somewhat', and this had indeed ensued. 

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: New Zealand Listener, 30 April 1943, p. 9 (S-L-1319-9)

Courtesy of Bauer Media

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Derek Dow, Medical research – Medical Research Council, 1937 to 1990, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/artwork/45809/making-muriel-bells-rosehip-syrup-1943 (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Derek Dow, i tāngia i te 23 June 2014.