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215 [1902
Milk purveyors in Islington, as elsewhere, are not satisfied with the
Official Standard when contracting for their milks with the farmers. They
require whole pure milk with all its fat, not three per cent., and woe betide the
farmers who send such a low percentage of fat. Why, the former would at once
break the contract, for they know full well that this percentage does not
represent a farmer's genuine milk. It is altogether another matter, however,
when it is sold retail, for then the purchaser has no redress. Happily,
however, inclusive of the adulterated samples, your borough is supplied on an
average, week-days and Sundays, with a milk containing 3.55 per cent, of fat,
which is 18 per cent, more than the official standard.
Butter.—178 samples were purchased, of which 28, or 15.7 per cent., were
found to be margarine, as compared with 20 per cent, in the preceding year.
This percentage is very high, and shows a deliberate intent to defraud, for
which there can be no possible excuse.
Sale of Butter Regulations.—The Board of Agriculture issued regulations,
which came into force on 15th May 1902, in which it is laid down that when
butter contains more than 16 per cent, of water it shall be assumed that it is
not genuine by reason of the excessive amount of water therein. Hitherto it
was very difficult to obtain a conviction for this fraud, which in some places is
practised very largely. In Islington, however, your Public Analyst has not
returned any samples as containing an excess of water.
Groceries.