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It will be seen that proceedings were taken in twenty-four cases, the fines and costs amounting
to £134 16s. 6d.
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 which will cease to operate when the cream
clauses of the Public Health (Preservatives, etc., in Food) Regulations, 1925, come into force on
the 1st January, 1928.
The Public Health (Preservatives, etc., in Food) Regulations, 1925.—These Regulations were
made on August 4th, 1925, and have been amended by the Public Health (Preservatives, etc., in
Food) Amendment Regulations, dated December 10th, 1926.
The effect of the Regulations and the amendment thereof is as follows:—
Preservatives.—No person shall manufacture for sale or sell after January 1st, 1927, any article
of food which contains any added preservative ; but the following exceptions are provided:—
(a) The Regulations shall not apply until July 1st, 1927, in respect of bacon, ham, egg yolk
and articles of food containing preservatives necessarily introduced by the use in their
preparation of preserved margarine.
(b) The Regulations shall not apply until January 1st, 1928, in respect of butter, cream and
articles of food containing preservative necessarily introduced by the use in their
preparation of preserved bacon, preserved ham, preserved egg yolk or preserved cream.
(c) The Regulations shall not apply until July 1st, 1928, in respect of articles of food
taining preservative necessarily introduced by the use in their preparation of preserved
butter.
(d) In regard to the foods mentioned in the first column of the following table, there will be no
offence under the Regulations in respect of the presence of either sulphur dioxide or
benzoic acid provided that the preservative is not present in a proportion greater than
that indicated in the third column below.