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Of butter, 171 samples were taken, 166 being returned as genuine,
and 5 as adulterated. No proceedings were taken in any of these cases,
in 4 there being only excesses of water, less than 6 per cent. in each case;
and in one case, 45.8 per cent. of foreign fat. This sample was not taken
under the Acts. A later sample taken from the same vendor under the
Acts proved to be genuine.

The Departmental Committee of the Local Government Board
recommended that butter should not contain more than 0.5 per cent. of
boric acid. All the butters noted above were, therefore, within the limit.
Of margarine, 18 samples were taken, all being returned as genuine.
Of these 18 samples 12, or 67 per cent., contained from 0.4 to 0.5 per
cent. of boric acid; 4, or 22 per cent., contained from 0.3 to 0.4 per cent.
of boric acid; and 2 samples, or 11 per cent., contained less than 0.2 per
cent.of boric.
Of coffee, 9 samples were taken, 8 being genuine, and one adulterated
with 63 per cent. of chicory, of which declaration had been made on a
label. Of pepper, 9 samples were taken, all being genuine. Of mustard,
9 samples were taken, 8 being genuine, and one containing 15 per cent. of
foreign matter. Two chocolate creams were analysed, both being genuine.
Public Health (Milk and Cream) Regulations, 1912.
Milk —One sample was examined by the Public Analyst for preservatives.
None was found.
Cream.—Nineteen samples were purchased informally (not under the
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts). Of these 19 samples 4 were reported to
be free from preservatives. These 4 samples were not labelled. Twelve
samples were labelled in accordance with the provisions of the Regulations
(Label 1). These 12 samples contained boric acid in amounts as follows,
namely
5 samples less than 01 per cent.
2 „ from 0.1 to 0.2 „
1 „ „ 0.2 to 0.3 „
4 „ „ 0.4 to 0.5 „
Three unlaballed samples were found to contain boric acid, namely,
one sample, 0.5 per cent.; one sample, 0.3 per cent.; and one sample
0.25 per cent. Letters were written from the Public Health Department
to the vendors of these three samples calling attention to the breaches of
the Regulations.