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1909]
'290
Demerara Sugar.—Nineteen samples were submitted to the Public
Analyst, of which 18 were returned as adulterated. The high percentage
(94.7) is due to the fact that all the shops at which they were purchased had
been first informally sampled by the inspector, together with 92 others which
had sold the West Indian article or had made a declaration at the time of sale,
which was the course practised by no less than 58 vendors.
Coffee.—At one time this article was sold very much adulterated with
chicory, whereas now it is more frequently sold pure or with a printed declaration
that it is a mixture of coffee and chicory. Consequently it is no surprise to find
that the inspector informally sampled 107 shops, at which 52 of the coffees
were genuine, 38 were sold with a declaration, and only 17 without a declaration.
He subsequently purchased these 17 samples officially, together with 2
others, and 18 of them, or 94.7 per cent., were afterwards reported by the
Public Analyst as adulterated.
Malt Vinegar.—In consequence of a report issued by the Food Department
of the Local Government Board, pointing out that artificial vinegars
were on sale, the simplest of which consists of acetic acid diluted with water
and coloured with caramel to give it the colour of malt vinegar, a product
obtained by brewing, 20 samples were submitted to the Public Analyst, of
which 15, or 75.0 per cent., were declared to be adulterated, thus showing that
the sale of dilute acetic acid is by no means uncommon. The trade in vinegar is
not confined to grocers, for it is found that many vegetable dealers also sell it, as
do some fishmongers, among both of whom the sale of the adulterated article is
most rife. The best grocers usually sell their vinegars in the original bottles
of the manufacturers, whereas the people mentioned, and the smaller dealers,
sell it "loose," that is, draw it from a cask or jar and fill it into the customers'
own bottles or jugs. Latterly manufacturers are putting up dilute
acetic acid in bottles labelled "Finest Wood Vinegar," which of course is no
offence.
Golden Syrup.—This food, which is purchased largely by poor people
for their children to eat with bread in lieu of butter, was purchased for analysis
in 21 instances, and in 3 cases was returned as adulterated with glucose.
Recently an attempt has been made by unscrupulous manufacturers to evade
the Adulteration Acts by selling an article to grocers called "amber syrup"
which has been found to consist of golden syrup mixed with glucose in very
varying proportions or of glucose solely, tinted with a colouring matter to