No fewer than 176 industrial chimneys were spewing smoke into the air and the streets were "running sewers"; he published his first reformist pamphlet, on the "sanatary aspects" of the town calling for municipal action.

He was aware of the earlier campaign against food adulteration by Thomas Wakley and Arthur Hill Hassall publicised through The Lancet;[4] but he considered that publicity alone was inadequate, and only political action would lead to legislation.

[5] Postgate suggested that a system of public analysts be set up charged with monitoring samples of food and drugs, supported by magisterial powers to levy fines on fraudsters.

The committee's proceedings were widely and favourably reported in the press, numerous witnesses were interviewed including Wakley and Hassall, and Postgate appeared before it three times.

Meetings were held about the country at which samples of bread, flour, ground coffee, mustard, vinegar, pepper, wine, beer, and drugs, as adulterated by the local retailers, were publicly exhibited and analysed.

[2] The committee's final report amounted to Postgate's proposal: the local appointment of public analysts, and jurisdiction by magistrates,[6] and in 1855 Scholefield introduced a suitable bill.

Over the next two decades nine bills dealing with adulteration were introduced into the House of Commons by the members for Birmingham, under Postgate's influence; all met with strenuous opposition from retailers.

[11] His epitaph recorded that, for "twenty-five years of his life, without reward, and under heavy discouragement, he laboured to protect the health and to purify the commerce of this people";[2] his obituaries were adulatory and his portrait is still displayed in a Committee room in Scarborough Town Hall.