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The extent of sophistication was, in percentage of added water, from 5 to 39 per
cent., abstracted fat from 6 to 17 per cent. ; in one instance a sample was found to
contain 12 per cent, of extraneous water in addition to being 3 per cent, deficient
in fat.
The highest percentage of added water detected in milk during the year was
39 per cent., and was found to be present in a sample supplied by a person keeping a
small light refreshment shop: a glass of milk was asked for and served by an assistant,
the proprietress not being present at the time; a summons was issued and the defendant
satisfied the magistrate that although legally liable, she had no guilty knowledge of the
act performed by her servant. A mitigated fine of 2s. 6d. and 17s. 6d. expenses was
imposed: it was suggested that the assistant drank the milk and made up the deficiency
with water.
The highest fines inflicted during the year were two of 25/, and 1/. 1s. costs, one
of which was imposed upon a foreign milk seller for supplying a pennyworth of milk
which was found to be deficient in fat to the extent of 10 per cent. This defendant
had already been fined on four previous occasions, the last conviction being followed by
a penalty of 20/, and costs.
The other being a coffee house keeper who was substituting margarine on bread
when bread and butter was asked for, the details will be found under "Butter."
In no instance during the year has the presence of any preservative been found
in any sample of milk purchased for analysis, which would seem to indicate that this
objectionable tampering with milk is not practised by the dealers who are responsible
for the City's milk supply. With the exception of two instances which occurred in
1911, no boric acid or other preservatives have been detected by the Public Analyst in
the City milk supply for many years. In the cases referred to in one instance 30 grains
per gallon was detected in a sample purchased from a man selling in the street, and in
the other the smallness of the sample submitted prevented the amount of boric acid in
the sample being determined.