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52
Food.
Much attention has been directed during 1923 to
the many questions connected with the purity of our
food supplies, and the conditions under which they
. are manufactured and kept.
The number of adulterated samples of milk has
risen from 2.9 per cent. in 1922, to 4.5 per cent. in
1923, but the greater part of this increase was due
to particular watch which was kept on a notorious
milk sophisticator, from whom a large number of
adulterated samples were obtained. This man was
eventually convicted on nine samples, and was fined
a total sum of 45 guineas and 9 guineas costs. He
has now ceased to trade in this borough. This man
was registered as a milk-seller in another London
borough. We endeavoured to get the Borough Council
concerned to strike him off their register of milksellers,
but they declined to do so.
In my annual report for 1922 I reported that, after
protracted negotiations, an agreement had been reached
between the Ministry of Health and the Liquid Egg
Trade that liquid eggs should not be used in the preparation
of small sponge cakes, sponge biscuits and
sponge fingers. Samples of these articles have been
taken during 1923, and it is satisfactory that the bakers
in the borough appear generally to be observing this
agreement. A special committee, appointed by the
Minister of Health, has been sitting during this year
in order to consider the whole question of preservatives
in food-stuffs. This Committee has heard much
evidence and gone very carefully into the difficult
questions involved, but their report has not yet been
issued. It is greatly to be hoped that their findings
will place this subject on some definite basis, and enable
local authorities to proceed on uniform lines, and with
some certainty of obtaining convictions. Definite
pronouncements will help the trade also, which, at
present, is placed in great difficulties owing to conflicting
views.