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118
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
would be a matter of much difficulty and expense to the Borough
to obtain the conviction of any defendant who had offered these
articles for sale provided they were found capable of yielding the
smallest quantity of gas.
At the same time, it must be fully recognised that the fixing of
a limit would prove in practice a difficult and perhaps dangerous
matter on account of the fact that certain baking powders, etc., are
manufactured with calcium acid phosphate, and that such powders,
although perfectly efficient when they leave the factory, may rapidly
deteriorate when kept by the retailer, especially under anything
like damp conditions.
The one sample of coffee mixture submitted was found to consist
entirely of coffee.
Six of the. 14 informal samples of cornflour examined were
reported as adulterated. Of these, three consisted entirely of rice
starch; two contained tapioca starch, and one consisted entirely
of potato starch.
It should here be noted that the stipendiary magistrate sitting
at the Lambeth Police Court has, since reports of the above samples
were issued, decided that rice starch may properly be described as
"cornflour."
In conclusion, I have to report that the total adulteration for
all samples submitted during the year amounted to 9.19 per cent.;
for formal samples, 11.07 per cent.; and for informal samples,
7.29 per cent.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
A. H. M. MUTER, f.i.c., f.c.s.,
Public Analyst.
South London Central Public Laboratory,
325, Kennington Road, S.E. 11.
13th February, 1920.