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284
FOOD AND DRUGS.
Under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 175 samples of food
and drugs were taken and analysed. The results are shown in
Table V.
Sixteen of the samples purchased in the Borough in 1918 were
not satisfactory; and, therefore, the percentage of non.genuine
samples amounted to 91 per cent., as compared with 6.4 per cent.
for the preceding year. This is about the figure for London
as a whole.
20 per cent. of the 80 Milk samples were unsatisfactory, as
against 10.4 per cent. during the preceding year; but in some cases
the deficiency below the legal limits was very slight.
In London the percentage of Milk samples reported against
was about 11 during 1917.
It should be added that many of the samples purchased were
below the quality of the average milk supply of London, although
they were a trifle above the low legal limits which have been fixed.
All the samples of Milk and Butter were tested for
antiseptics, with the result that 0 of the samples of Milk,
and 4 of Butter were found to contain them. In no case was the
amount sufficient to warrant a prosecution, and in each case
boric acid was found; but in one or two instances the vendors
were cautioned.
Two informal samples have been taken during the year. The
informal samples collected did not lead to the detection of adulteration.