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During the year the Minister of Food withdrew the Labelling of Food
Advisory Service which had been operating very successfully for some
years.. Whilst this service had no legislative power it provided most
useful liaison between food manufacturers and packers on the one hand and
Local Authorities on the other. Any manufacturer seeking advice was
given the benefit of the experience of the legal and chemical advisers of
the Minister and most manufacturers having been given this advice,
accepted it loyally. From the point of view of the public analyst the
service was invaluable because, whenever he was in doubt regarding the
description or labelling of any product he had only to contact the
Ministry to know whether the matter had received the approval of the
Ministry and, if so, whether the Ministry had been informed correctly of
the composition of the food. With the disappearance of this service
every public analyst will be obliged to express his own opinion regarding
the labelling of a product and its composition in regard to such label.
In the event of the Local Authority supporting the public analyst it will
have to be decided whether the matter is one which should be discussed
amicably with the manufacturer or whether legal action should be taken.
It is thus seen that the advice and opinion of one central advisory
service is being replaced by some three hundred and fifty critics, who
will not necessarily all be of the same opinion. The increase in
eventual cost will be enormous and cannot but cause irritation to reputable
manufacturers.
I have the honour to be, Madam Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
THOMAS McLACHLAN, A.C.G.F.C., F.R.I„C„
Public Analyst.