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quantities of mineral or other deleterious matter is present. During
the year samples of rice purchased under the provisions of the
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts were submitted to the Public
Analyst, and were reported by him to be adulterated with mineral
matter (talc) in varying quantities. The cases were submitted
to the Health Committee, but in view of the small quantities of
the mineral matter present the Committee decided not to take
legal proceedings, but directed that the vendors were to be
cautioned, and instructed the Medical Officer of Health to send
a circular letter to the traders in the Borough, drawing their
attention to the practice which they were advised may be injurious
to health, and will render the vendors of such adulterated
rice liable to prosecution by the Council.
The following letter was sent to all traders in rice in the
Borough:—
1st June, 1912.
"Dear Sir,—The attention of the Council has been
called to the practice of what is known as the 'facing' of
rice with talc and similar foreign matter, with the apparent
object of improving the appearance of the grain. The Council
are advised that the practice in no way adds to the value
of the rice as an article of food, but, on the contrary, constitutes
a form of adulteration which, under the provisions
of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, is to be deemed to be
to the prejudice of the purchaser, and may be injurious to
health.
"I am, therefore, instructed to inform you that samples
taken within this district, under the Sale of Food and Drugs
Acts, which are reported by the Public Analyst to be thus
adulterated, will render the vendors liable to proceedings
being taken against them.
"Yours faithfully,
"G. Quin Lennane,
" Medical Officer of Health."
The practice of treating rice in this manner in no way adds
to the dietetic value of the article. Having regard to the fact
that rice is a common article of diet for children and invalids, the
risk of injury to health is, in my opinion, considerable. The consumer
gains nothing from the practice, any aesthetic advantage
being nullified by the cooking process. On the other hand he is
liable to be defrauded, as this process of "facing" no doubt
enables inferior quality rice to be substituted for, or mixed with
a better grade article.