View report page

19j.yj
68
ADULTERATION OF FOOD AND DRUGS.
One thousand two hundred and twenty-nine samples of foods and drugs
were submitted for analysis by the District Inspectors, for since Mr. Tom
Leonard Burrell was loaned to the Food Control Committee, these Inspectors
have procured the samples for submission to our Analyst, Dr. F. L. Teed
and to the additional Analyst, Mr. A. Pinchin, B.Sc., who reported that 1,100
were genuine and G3 were adulterated, or 5-6 per cent. This percentage is the
lowest hitherto recorded, and compares with 9-6 per cent, in the preceding
year. It is, therefore, 4-5 per cent, lower than obtained then, and is 5-3 per
cent, below the average rate during the preceding 29 years
The greatest amount of adulteration occurred in the first and second
quarters of the year, as is seen by the statement given below, when it was 0 3
and 7-3 per cent, respectively, and contrasted with 5-3 and 1-9 per cent,
respectively in the third and fourth quarters. This falling off in the last two
quarters of the year is due to the decreased amount of adulteration in milk.
Indeed, in the last quarter the adulteration of this article of food fell as low
as 3-7 per cent.

Prosecutions.—40 summonses were issued under the Sale of Food and
Drugs Acts, 20 of which were successfully prosecuted. Altogether penalties
and costs to the amount of £158 7s. Od. were obtained.
The Public Analysts, in the quarterly reports during the year, reported
on the genuineness of the articles examined as follows :—