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53
A sample of canned Beef Soup contained only 2 per cent of protein.
Beef Soup must contain not less than 2.5 per cent of protein and the sample
was therefore 16 per cent deficient in protein.
Two samples of soup powder were considered to be worthless. The weight
of the contents of the packets, 22 gramme and 24 gramme respectively was
declared to make 1 litre of soup, little more than sufficient material to
colour and flavour the water. Unfortunately, it was found that the Ministry
of Pood had approved these preparations some years ago.
Some cooked solid packed apples were submitted because of a salty taste.
The salt content was 0.85 per cent. Apples do not contain more than .01 per
cent of salt. and salt should never be added to apples in cooking them. The
packers explained that the apples were brined to preserve their colour and
had been improperly washed.
A Gourd (Squash) was submitted because it had an unpleasant flavour.
The complaint was justified, but all true Gourds have a tendency to secrete
the cathartic principle formerly believed to be colocynthin, but now known
to be enslin, and in many varieties or Cucurbita and allied genera it is
often elaborated to such an extent as to render them unwholesome or even
poisonous. All the fruits from this particular plant would be contaminated.
The Gouid submitted as a sample was very small and hopelessly unripe.
A sample of Tomato Juice contained extraneous matter which your analyst
considered to be diseased tomato skin. The manufacturers thought it to be
scorched portions of tomato tissue as they had had similar trouble in 1953.
A sample labelled Tomato Vitamin failed to give any declaration of
vitamin content as required by the Labelling of Pood Order. Analysis showed
it to be an ordinary sample of Tomato Puree, and the packers eventually
agreed to amend the label by making it to read "Vitam", which is the Latin
word for "life".
Two samples of Fresh Grange Drink one concentrated and the other ready
to drink were found to contain from 10 to 20 lbs. and 1.2 to 2.5 lbs.
respectively of comminuted fresh orange per 10 gallons of drink, so that they
contained less than the minimum quantity of comminuted fresh oranges required
to be used by the Soft Drinks Order. They also contained only 5.8 mgs. and
0.4 mgs. respectively of vitamin C per fl. oz. of soft drink, and in your
analyst's opinion this was insufficient to warrant the description "Fresh
Orange Drink". Since the rejected portion of the oranges is often used
for the manufacture of marmalade which also has to comply with a standard
under the Pood Standards (Preserves) Order, it is difficult to see how one
batch of oranges can supply essential fruit for two different products to
comply with different Orders. It is, however, understood that the Food
Standards (Soft Drinks) Order, may be amended.
A sample submitted as Pig Coffee consisted entirely of ground roasted
figs. No literature could be found giving any reference to the use of the
word "coffee" in connection with figs for a preparation consisting of figs
only. The Labelling of Food Order, part IV, 7(3), accepts the description
"Viennese Coffee" for a mixture of 85 per cent coffee with 15 per cent of
fig seasoning, but does not allow for Fig Coffee. The label of this product
has now been amended to "Figcaf".