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85
CAKE AND PUDDING MIXTURES.
In order to meet a modern demand, there is a growing tendency to
sell cartons containing one or more packets of ingredients for particular
types of cakes or pudding. Generally speaking these packets and their
contents are quite satisfactory and contain the ingredients in the proportions
specified. A sample of "Mixed Fruit" was stated to contain
"currants, sultanas, raisins and peel in approximately equal quantities."
Actually the percentages of the four ingredients were:—currants 47
per cent., sultanas 22 per cent., raisins 20 per cent., and peel 11 per cent.
These proportions can hardly be described as approximately equal and
the sample was accordingly returned as Adulterated.
CITRUS FRUIT POWDERS.
Reference was made in the Report last year to two samples of citrus
fruit powders, which had been reported against on account of the fact
that they contained tartaric acid and not citric acid, the acid natural
to citrus fruits. One of these cases had not been completely dealt with
when the Report had to be made out and it may be of interest to record
that in the case of this sample the vendor supplied the name of the wrong
manufacturer, who expressed great indignation that your analyst should
suggest that tartaric acid was present in any of his products. When the
matter was referred to the correct manufacturer, it was explained that
the foreman in charge of manufacture had altered the formula without
consulting either the scientific staff or the manager and an apology was
given and a promise to remove the offending article. This case is
interesting because of a similar case in another Borough, for which your
analyst has the honour to hold the appointment, and in that instance
the manufacturer brought the Director of the British Association of
Research for the Cocoa, Chocolate, Sugar and Confectionery Trades to
support his argument that it is legitimate to use tartaric acid in these
powders. Cases of this type are particularly difficult, because with the
present legal machinery the only method of deciding the point would be
to bring a Test Case in the High Court, a proceeding, which no one
wishes to take. If there were a Standing Committee at the Ministry of
Health to advise the Minister with regard to a Statutory Order, the
whole matter would be simplified considerably. The sample submitted
during the year under review was prepared with citric acid.
COFFEE AND COFFEE AND CHICORY.
All the samples were found to be correctly described.
CREAM PASTRIES.
Four samples of Cream Pastries were submitted for examination. Of
these one was described by a fancy name, implying that the filling was
prepared with a creamy looking mixture, which did not contain milk
fat, and one contained a filling, which was prepared with milk fat. These
were both reported as genuine, but the other two samples were returned
as Adulterated, as the creamy filling contained a fat, which had the