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107
is similar to the results obtained in other districts, and it
emphasises the importance of frequent Sunday sampling.
On reference to the table of prosecutions on page 138,
it will be seen that proceedings were taken in 9 cases of milk
adulteration with chemical preservatives, the preservative
employed being in 8 samples boracic acid, and in one sample
formaldehyde. Four of the former cases deserve special
mention. In these cases a firm of milk-sellers was summoned
for selling milk to which boracic acid had been added in
quantities varying from 1.3977 to 1.717 grains per pint.
Evidence on behalf of the Council was given by Professor
Kenwood, who stated that these quantities were, especially
under certain conditions, dangerous to health, and further,
that if milk were produced in a cleanly manner there was no
need to add chemical preservatives of any kind, even in the
hottest weather. The defendants were fined £2 and £10 10s.
costs in respect of the first sample and ordered to pay the
costs of the summonses in respect of the three remaining
samples.
These cases are worthy of mention, for, so far as I am
aware, there is no other case on record of a conviction having
been obtained for the addition of so small a quantity of boracic
acid to milk. It is evident that the existing law may be
successfully invoked in cases where boracic acid has been
added to milk, even in so small a proportion as 1.3977 grains
per pint. Unfortunately, however, magistrates cannot always
be relied upon to take so serious a view of the presence of
boracic acid in milk, and it is much to be hoped that there
will be no further delay in giving legislative effect to the
following recommendation of the Departmental Committee on
Food Preservatives:—
"That the use of any preservative or colouring
matter whatever in milk offered for sale in the United
Kingdom be constituted an offence under the Sale of Food
and Drugs Acts."