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It will be seen that proceedings were taken in eleven cases, the fines and costs amounting
to £40 16s. 0d.
Cream Regulations—The Public Health (Milk and Cream Regulations), 1912, made by the
Local Government Board in pursuance of the powers conferred by Section 1 of the Public Health
(Regulations as to Food) Act, 1907, came into force on October 1st, 1912. They prohibit absolutely
the presence of any kind of preservative in milk or in cream containing less than 35 per cent. of
milk fat, and the addition of any thickening substance of any kind except sugar to cream. In the
case of cream containing 35 per cent. of fat or more, the effect of the Regulations is to permit the
addition of boric acid, borax or hydrogen peroxide, provided the cream so preserved is sold in
vessels bearing a label with a printed declaration of the percentage of boric acid, borax or peroxide
which has been used. The addition of any other kind of preservative is prohibited.
These Regulations were amended by the Public Health (Milk and Cream) Regulations, 1917,
so as to limit the boric acid and borax which may be added to cream containing 35 per cent. or
more of fat, to an amount not exceeding 0.4 per cent. by weight of the cream. These amending
Regulations also provide that the declaratory label must state that the cream is not suitable for
infants or invalids.
On the ground that the addition of preservatives in any quantity to cream is unnecessary, the
Council have taken no action under these Regulations.
In all cases of milk and cream samples submitted to the Public Analyst, an examination for
preservatives is made, and if any be found, the Public Health Committee consider the question of
instituting proceedings under the Food and Drugs Act, even though' in the case of borax or boric
acid in cream the amount found be less than that allowed by the amending Regulations.
These Regulations will cease to operate when the Public Health (Preservatives in Food)
Regulations, 1925, come into force in 1927.
Public Health (Preservatives in Food) Regulations, 1925. —These Regulations,
which were issued on August 4th last, are generally in accordance with the views which have been
put forward by the Council for many years past and this new legislation will very considerably
assist the Council in maintaining that high standard of food purity which they and their predecessors
have endeavoured to enforce under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts during the last forty years.
The Council have every reason to be satisfied with the Regulations as they exist, for, indeed,
they prohibit the addition of those preservatives which the Council have endeavoured to exclude
from foodstuffs in this Borough, and they sanction the use of only two preservatives, namely,
sulphur dioxide and benzoic acid, which may be regarded as harmless in the quantities prescribed
and in regard to which the Council have never seen fit to take proceedings.
The Regulations do not come into operation until 1927 and, therefore, for the time being, the
Council's Public Health Officers will endeavour to bring the new requirements to the notice of
traders generally so that when they do come into effect, there should be little difficulty in securing
their enforcement.
Margarine and Butter Substitutes.—Under Section 9 of the Margarine Act, 1887, and
Section 7 (4) of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1899, manufacturers and wholesale dealers in
margarine and margarine cheese are required to register their premises with the local authority.
By Section 1 (1) of the Butter and Margarine Act, 1907, these requirements were extended to
butter factories and to the premises of wholesale dealers in milk-blended butter. The following
premises in the Borough are registered in accordance with the requirements of the above Acts :—
Lipton, Ltd 210, Portobello Road.
„ ,, 145, Brompton Road.
E. C. Nicholls 19, Church Street.
Maypole Dairy Co., Ltd 196, Portobello Road.