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1927
62
because everything was done to check it. His opinion was that it was very little
use proceeding under the present Order, and he was aware of the need for a
measure that would enable them to identify imported eggs by definite marks. All
imported eggs, however, were not inferior. There were instances where Dutch
brown eggs were mixed with English eggs to improve the sample. With regard
to stamping with an indelible ink, he considered the ink would have no detrimental
effect on the contents of the egg, nor would it lead to deterioration if stamped
eggs were put into preservative.
Some interesting points had come out through the proceedings taken. Three
of the cases were against wholsale dealers, as we refrained from taking action
against the retailer, who has been misled in his purchases. In another case the
purchase was. made of eggs which were unticketed, but the Inspector distinctly
asked for "New Laid Eggs," and no mention was made of the fact that the eggs
were imported. The defendant's manager and assistant, both at the time and in
Court, maintained that no offence had been committed, as no written label had
been used. With the remark that the defendant had been too clever, the Magistrate
convicted. In other cases the word "imported" had been written on the
back of the label or else in small letters at the foot, so as to be concealed by the
eggs.
The following additional notes may be of interest. In the Food Order of 1921
it seems to be no offence "under the Order" to mark eggs of any nationality
"English" so long as the words" new laid" or "fresh" are not used in the
description. This came forcibly to the mind of our Inspector when he saw Dutch
eggs marked up "English," and priced with nothing else on the description.
Descriptions of eggs are varied : "Direct from the farm," etc. A man had a
large board exhibited with his name on it, and the name of a farm in Kent. He
sells English eggs with some foreign eggs mixed with them. Needless to say,
the! eggs do not come from any farm in Kent. Other terms used are : " Special
Selected," " Best," " Very Best," etc. Dutch eggs are frequently higher priced
than English eggs, so with Danish. There was at one time probably no more
reliable egg on the market than the Danish. In the past the English farmer
very frequently kept his eggs anticipating a better price, and it was a drawback
to English eggs that they were small and not properly graded. Under the Food
Order also, as far as it is concerned, it is no offence to apply an incorrect
nationality to eggs. For instance, if it is a foreign description, Canadian marked
as Danish, it is merely a misdescription. An English egg should be the best value.
It is up to the English producer to grade properly to meet foreign competition.