View report page

porated in the full grown fruit. Lastly, it has been admitted by a
number of firms that the copper may obtain access to the product
from the processing vessels which are themselves often made of
that metal.
So far as tin is concerned, this metal is derived from the
containers in which the food is packed and its presence may be
an indication that the product is old and has been kept in stock
for a long time.,
It has often been suggested by importers that standards of
permissible limits for metals should be fixed. While this procedure
would no doubt have its advantages, it has the disadvantage
that the permissible limit, beyond which it would presumably
be an offence to contaminate food, would immediately become
the permanent standard to which producers would endeavour to
conform.
I am of the opinion that it is best to adhere to the general
principle that all metallic contamination is dangerous and that
every possible means must be taken to avoid such contamination.
Apart from metallic contamination there have arisen during
the year three other matters of interest to which I wish to draw
attention.
It has been found on a number of occasions that the very
fine leavings from broken biscuits and wafers were being sold
very cheaply to children from certain shops in the borough, under
the name of "gold dust". A very considerable amount of
foreign matter was found in this biscuit dust and, as it was
obviously quite easy to include sweepings in the dust, the view
was taken that the sale of the product should be prevented if
possible. The tradesmen concerned were, therefore, informed that
the practice of selling this dust was a most undesirable one and
agreed without further argument to cease selling the product.
Towards the end of the year a quantity (56 lbs.) of dark raw
sugar deposited in a warehouse, was seized. This sugar, unrefined
and dark brown, almost black in colour, is popularly known as
"foot sugar" and although mostly used in trade processes is sold
in appreciable quantities at Christmas time for the purpose of