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acid. The quantity permitted in each article of food is definitely specified. When
preserved articles are sold they are to be labelled as such.
The provisions as to importation are to be enforcd by the officers of customs
and excise, port and other sanitary authorities, responsible for the administration
of the Public Health (Imported Food) Regulations, 1925.
The provisions relating to the manufacture and sale of articles of food
containing preservative are to be enforced by the sanitary authorities in London
the Metropolitan Borough Councils.
Generally the Regulations are to come into operation on the 1st January,
1927; so far however as they relate to butter and cream, the operation is postponed
to the 1st January, 1928. So far as they relate to an article of food containing
preservative necessarily introduced by the use in its preparation of preserved
bacon, ham, margarine or butter the operation is postponed to the 1st July, 1927
(bacon, ham, margarine), and to the 1st July, 1928, in the case of butter.
One of the recommendations of the Departmental Committee was that any
prohibition or limitation imposed by the Regulations should bind the Courts in
proceedings taken under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts. The Committee went
on to say:—
"If this were done, traders and the public generally would know what was
permissible and what was not, and there would be no conflict of expert evidence
on the question whether the amount of preservative or colouring matter was or
was not injurious to health. The only point at issue would normally be whether
the preservative or colouring matter found in the food, or the amount of it, was
in contravention of the Regulations. A change in the law in this direction would,
we feel sure, be appreciated both by Local Authorities and by traders."
In a circular letter issued to Local Authorities from the Ministry of Health
in August, 1925, the Minister expressed agreement with the view of the
Committee, but intimated that it had not then been practicable to introduce
legislation to give effect to the recommendation. The Minister commended the
matter to the consideration of Local Authorities and suggested that proceedings
should not be taken under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts in respect of the
addition of preservatives in food except where such additions would be contrary
to the provisions of the Regulations.
It is to be hoped that the necessary legislation to give effect to the
recommendation of the Committee in this direction will become practicable in
the near future.
In the year 1925, 29 articles of food, purchased in the Borough, were
found to contain preservative. The number of preserved samples and the variety
of the articles as shown in the list below repeat the experiences of previous years