View report page

75
official standard for cheese it was difficult to take legal proceedings
against the vendors of such cheese, and asking the Board to issue
regulations under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1899, fixing a
minimum standard as to the fat content of cheese. A reply, dated
12th April, 1910, was received from the Board expressing the opinion
that no advantage would accrue from such regulations, and pointing
out the practical difficulties in the way of framing suitable regulations
owing to the many different kinds of cheese on the market,
each varying in character and composition. Further, the fact that
all high-class cheeses contain a relatively high percentage of fat,
and that the proportion of moisture in cheese decreases and the
proportion of fat pari passu increases during the time the article
is kept in storage, a change that is very marked in some cheeses;
that the risk of cheese being adulterated is much less than the
adulteration of milk and butter. The commercial value of cheese
stands in no precise relation to its alimentary value nor, except in
a very broad sense, is there any connection between its commercial
value and its composition. It is the characteristic flavour of a
cheese which is generally taken into account by consumers without
regard to its nutritive quality. There are whole milk cheeses and
skim milk cheeses, and many variations between these two extremes.
Lard and Lard Substitutes.
In May, 1910, a memorandum was received from the Local
Government Board dealing with the following matters:—
(a) Sale of lard substitutes as lard, the great increase in the
sale and the necessity of taking samples;
(b) Presence of water in lard substitutes—the necessity of
testing lards for percentages of water ;
(c) Presence of paraffin in lard, lard substitutes and
garine ; solid paraffin (2.5 per cent.) found in lard and
2.10 per cent. in margarine ; and convictions obtained
under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.
During 1910, 16 samples of lard were taken in Battersea, and
only one of these was reported on analysis to be adulterated. This
case was of considerable interest. On the 21st July a sample of
lard was purchased at a provision shop in Plough Road, under the
provisions of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts. The Food and
Drugs Inspector reported that the agent employed by him to make
the purchase asked for "half a pound of 7d. lard," and she was
served from a block of material lying on the counter in full view
the purchaser and labelled "Prepared lard," the vendor saying at
the same time, "It is prepared lard." The sum of 3id. was paid
for the article supplied. The Inspector then entered the shop and
took charge of the purchase and told the vendor, to whom he was