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35
The quantity of salicylic acid alleged by manufacturers to be necessary to
preserve non-alcoholic drinks from fermentation varies according to the amount
and kind of sweetening agent, but it is held by some medical experts that salicylic
acid even in quite small quantities has injurious effects on digestion.
Another point of difficulty which has weight with Magistrates before whom
cases are heard, is that the local authorities institute proceedings against the
vendor, i.e., the retailer, although in the majority of cases it is not the retailer who
adds the preservative. There does not appear to be any procedure by which the
local authority can take action under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts against
manufacturers. This difficulty could be overcome if the addition of preservatives
was prohibited altogether or it made an offence to sell by wholesale or retail,
food containing preservative, without proper disclosure of the nature and amount,
of preservative used
With such a mass of conflicting opinion and evidence it is not surprising that
legal decisions in prosecutions for preservatives in food show little consistency, and
it would seem very necessary that some definite ruling on the whole subject should
be established.
The Departmental Committee on the use of preservatives and colouring
matters in food, was appointed in July, 1890, and the report and recommendations
of the Committee were issued in 1901; 23 years have passed since the appointment
of the Committee and 21 since its recommendations were issued.
During this time considerable scientific progress has been made and it is
reasonably certain that if an enquiry were held to-day the recommendations, if
they did not prohibit the addition of preservatives, would not only suggest
compulsory declaration of presence, but also disclosure of the amount and that
the maximum should be limited by law.
I therefore recommended:—
That a communication be addressed to the Ministry of Health urging that
in the interests alike of manufacturers, retailers, consumers and local authorities,
steps should be taken without delay, to appoint a Committee to enquire into
the use of preservatives and colouring matters in foods and that the
recommendations of such Committee should be given effcct by law.
The Council adopted this recommendation and a communication was sent
to the Ministry of Health accordingly.
Food Poisoning.
At an inquest he'd during the year on the death of a resident in the Borough,
the death was found to be due to syncope while the deceased was suffering from
an acute attack of gastro-enteritis consequent on food poisoning. A bacillus of the
Gaertner type was recovered from the spleen and bile of the gall bladder.
On enquiry it was ascertained that the patient who was suffering with
diarrhoea and vomiting was admitted to a nursing home in a prostrate condition.
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