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informal), in no single instance were preservatives found. Six
samples of cream (one a preserved cream) were taken during
1913, and 5 (including the preserved cream) were found to
be adulterated, the adulterations consisting of (a) the
presence of preservatives in fresh cream, and (b) an excess
of declared preservative in preserved cream, thus:—
1. Milk; and cream not sold as preserved cream:—
(a) (b)
No. of samples No. in which a
examined for the preservative
presence of was reported
preservative to be found
Milk 495 0
Cream 5 4
2. Cream sold as preserved cream:—
(a) Correct statement made on label —
(b) Statement incorrect (viz. : slight excess
beyond quantity declared) 1
No action was taken owing to the difficulty in proving
guilty knowledge.
Informal v. Formal Sampling.
During 1913, a total of 1,055 informal samples have been
taken, as compared with 800 formal samples.
The Local Government Board drew the attention of
Sanitary Authorities to the advisability of taking informal
samples instead of formal samples with all the formalities
required by the Acts, i.e., samples of foods and drugs for
analysis without disclosing to the vendors the purpose for
which the samples are required, as the Board is of opinion
that, ;by that means, habitual offenders could be more
readily detected, and especially those guilty of the fraud
of substituting margarine for butter. Informal sampling
is particularly useful to the Inspectors, who desire to detect
tradesmen in a small way of business, who may practice