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105
In order that further expert evidence might be called for the
prosecution, the case was adjourned.
At the adjournment, on August 29th, evidence was produced by
us in support of the prosecution.—Charles E. Cassal, F.I.C.,
Public Analyst for the Royal Borough of Kensington, the City of
Westminster, and the County of Lincoln, said it was not necessary
to add sugar in the preparation of condensed milk, or condensed
separated milk, and he had analysed several brands of condensed
milk which contained no added sugar whatever. The witness said
that condensed milk, when properly prepared and canned, would
keep as long as it was safe, and therefore desirable, that it should
be kept after the tin is opened, without the addition of sugar.
Such addition did not result in the proper preservation of the milk,
and was in no way beneficial to the consumer, but rather harmful,
in that the presence of the sugar masked the evidences of
decomposition, which, in unsweetened milk, affords warning to the
consumer that the substance is dangerous to health. The addition
of 40 to 50 per cent, of sugar to separated milk, and the subsequent
condensation of the mixture, gave a product whose thickness
deceived the purchaser, and foreign separated milk, from which
practically the whole of the fat had been removed, was thus foisted
on the public in this country as a nourishing product, and, in the
opinion of the witness, the extensive use of such products had
resulted in grave injury, and had, unquestionably, been responsible
for much infant mortality. The presence of so large a proportion
of sugar had the effect of throwing out the relation between the
various food constituents of the milk, and in the present case the
food value of the substance was lowered because sugar was made to
take the place of the fat which should have been present.
Robert Hutchison, M.D., M.R.C.P., Assistant Physician to the
London Hospital, and the Hospital for Sick Children in Great
Ormond Street, said that the addition of sugar is not necessary for
the preservation of condensed milk, as is proved by the existence of
some excellent brands to which no sugar has been added, viz:—
"Ideal," "Hollandia," "Viking," and "First Swiss." The removal
of fat made it more difficult to preserve milk. The addition of a
large quantity of sugar renders a great degree of subsequent dilution