View report page

1906] 282
To the Chairman and Members of the Public Health Committee.
Gentlemen,
PRESERVATIVES IN MILK.
(Letter from the Local Government Board, 17th August, 1906.)
So far as the purely medical aspect of this question is concerned, I think that there is
no uncertain opinion among my profession as to the undesirability of adding preservatives
to milk, particularly when it is recollected that their addition has been dictated with a view
(a) to cover the ill-effects of its collection amidst insanitary surroundings and under even
dirty and filthy conditions, and (b) to mixing old and separated milk, which is generally
a day older than the new milk, with new milk for the purpose of fraud.
Unfortunately the Local Government Board has given no guidance in this matter, although
a Departmental Committee in 1901 recommended the importance of more direct obligation on
the Local Government Board to exercise supervision over the use of preservatives and colouring
matters in foods, and to prepare schedules of such as may be considered inimical to
the public health.
In their circular of the 11th July, 1906, the Board made a slight departure, and make
a pronouncement with respect to the amount of formalin and boric acid in milk, which is
to cause a presumption that it has been rendered injurious to health. It is as follows:—
As regards formalin and boron preservatives, however, the Board are advised that the
presence in milk of formalin to an amount which is ascertained by examination within three
days of collecting the sample to exceed 1 part in 40,000 (1 part in 100,000 of formic aldehyde)
raises a strong presumption that the article has been rendered injurious to health, and that
the purchaser has been prejudiced, in the above sense; and also that similar presumption
is raised where boron preservatives are present in milk to an amount exceeding 57 parts of
boric acid per 100,000, or 40 grs. per gallon.
Henceforth very probably the amount of these preservatives will be looked upon as
permissible in milk, as in face of the pronouncement no Magistrate will convict an offender
if it is brought under his notice. On the other hand, it will be a guide to health authorities
as to the amount of preservatives, beyond which they may be considered as injurious to
health, and so induce them to take proceedings, which otherwise they would have refrained
from.
Personally, I have no hesitation in saying that I could support by my evidence that these
preservatives in the quantities stated are detrimental to health, and I can consequently advise
the Committee to proceed against persons who have added formalin or boric acid in excess
of the Local Government Board's figures.
I am,
Your obedient Servant,
A. E. HARRIS,
Medical Officer of Health.
Town Hall,
Upper Street, N.
November 26th, 1906.