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73
(c) Adulteration, etc.
During the year under review 2,000 samples of food and drugs
were submitted to the Public Analyst : of these 800 including milk,
vinegar, butter, ice cream, condensed milk, pepper and spirits
were taken with the formalities prescribed by the Act. The remaining
1,200 samples were procured informally and consisted of a large
variety of foods and a selection of drugs.
24 formal samples (4 of vinegar, 9 of condensed milk, 1 of borax,
1 of dripping, 2 of whisky and 7 of milk) or 3 per cent, of the
number taken were reported by the Public Analyst to be
adulterated. In 6 cases proceedings were instituted against the
offenders, and in 9 cases letters were sent to the vendors pointing
out the adulteration and warning them against a repetition of the
offence.
The remaining 9 adulterated samples were of unsweetened
condensed milk forming part of a representative batch of samples
from a consignment of approximately 26,000 tins which had been
imported into this country and which were lying at a wharf in this
borough. The tins of milk were not labelled in accordance with
the provisions of the Public Health (Condensed Milk) Regulations,
1923, and although the tins were being relabelled to comply with
the regulations a stop notice was placed on the goods until samples
had been taken and the analyses had been received. Of 50 samples
9 were found to be below the required standard and, as a result,
an arrangement was made with the owners of the milk to dispose
of it for purposes other than for human consumption.

Of the 445 samples of milk procured from retailers 347 were taken
during the day time. 98 samples were obtained from roundsmen
in the early morning.