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76
The Council are advised that the presence of foreign
mineral matter in rice constitutes an unnecessary and objectionable
form of adulteration and may be injurious to health,
and the Medical Officer of Health was instructed to call the
attention of vendors of rice in the Borough to the matter in
June, 1912, and a circular letter was sent by him to each
trader in rioe having premises in this Borough at that time,
copy of which I enclose.
Although the quantity of the foreign mineral matter
reported by the Public Analyst in the sample just purchased
from you is small, the Council take a serious view of the
danger to health which may arise, having regard to the fact
that rice is largely used as diet for infants and invalids. This
practice of "facing" rice, as it is termed, can in no sense
be justified, and, apart from the danger to health which may
be involved, it is to the prejudice of the purchaser. Any
apparently improved appearance of the grain disappears on
cooking, and the practice detracts from the value of rice as an
article of food.
1 have to inform you, therefore, that although the Council
do not propose to take any legal proceedings in respect of
this sample, they trust it will be unnecessary for them to again
remind you of the uselessness of this objectionable practice
and of the danger which may arise to the public health therefrom.
Yours faithfully,
W. Marcus Wilkins,
Town Clerk.