View report page

107
mixed with sugar, as that was understood by the purchaser. Sugar
was added to the milk after the process of condensation for the
purpose of preserving it, and the only alternative to using sugar
would be to use preservatives, such as boracic acid, for preserving
the milk.—Mr. C. T. Lehmann (a manufacturer of condensed milk
and condensed separated milk), said that this article (condensed
skimmed milk) was manufactured entirely out of England—in
Holland, mostly, and also in Ireland. The make of the tins for unsweetened
condensed milk was entirely different to the make of tins
for ordinary condensed milk, so as to admit of a heat sterilization
process after filling. It was more expensive to put up unsweetened
condensed milk than sweetened condensed milk or sweetened condensed
skim milk.—Mr. Henry Cushen, Chairman of the Metropolitan
Grocers' Association, said that in his opinion the only reason
for putting a notification on tins that added sugar was present was
to show that nothing else was added (such as starch, etc.). He saw
no other reason for the proceeding.—Mr. Goodrich said that he was
a grocer and oilman in a large way of business, and also a member
of the London County Council for Mile End. He thought that condensed
skimmed milk was a necessary article of food for the poor,
but he saw no reason why the presence of sugar should be notified
to the purchaser.—Mr. Beck said that his case was that the addition
of sugar to condensed milk was necessary in order to prepare it as an
article of commerce, and that therefore there was no prejudice to the
purchaser. They were dealing with a manufacture for the composition
of which no standard had at present been fixed.—Mr.
Ricketts said that it was for the magistrate to say whether sugar
was necessary for the preservation of the milk, and whether there
ought not to have been on the tin a disclosure of the fact that sugar
was used.
Mr. d'Eyncourt reserved his judgment, and eventually delivered
it on September 27th. He held that the article had been sold with
prejudice to the purchaser; that when purchasers obtained this condensed
milk they neither expected or required so much cane sugar;
that it was of such a nature as to be prejudicial to young children;
that sugar acts as a preservative of the milk, but that condensed