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71
have been laid down for the composition of many foods. Legislation
has been established to ensure proper labelling and to
prohibit the use of false or misleading descriptions.
Consequent amendments have, therefore, been rendered
necessary in the principles and methods of sampling to ensure
compliance with legal requirements. The purpose of sampling
to-day is not so much for the detection of fraudulent adulteration,
but to ascertain whether the statutory standards of composition
and purity are being maintained. Whilst close supervision
is still given to the chemical composition of all foods, more
and more attention is being paid to sampling for bacteriological
examination.
In an area so large as Camberwell, the employment of a
whole-time Sampling Officer is essential. Close co-operation
and personal contact with the Public Analyst has enabled the
Sampling Officer to select which samples should be purchased.
Experience over a number of years has shown that the number
of prosecutions of offenders against the Food and Drugs Act
and other relevant legislation is not a satisfactory way of judging
the administration which has for its purpose the prevention of
substitutions which may be fraudulent or injurious, to health.
Cautions to vendors have been proved to be extremely useful,
especially in relation to retailers who have committed technical
offences. On the other hand, prosecutions for fraudulent adulteration,
such as the addition of water to milk, are always necessary
and are the result of consideration by the Public Health
Committee.
Approximately 55 samples are examined annually for each
10,000 of the population. In 1922,1,069 samples were examined
by the Analyst. Of these, 665 were milk and the percentage
not genuine was 1.95. In samples other than milk, the percentage
not genuine was 4.58. In 1951, 1,000 samples were
examined, including 341 of milk. The percentage of milk samples
reported against was 1.17 and samples other than milk 6.2.

Details of the adulterated samples, action taken and results
of legal proceedings will be found on pages 72-75.