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58
The Bread (Amendment No. 2) Order, 1956, abolished all price control on bread, and
also abolished definitions of national flour,national bread, national brown bread, and
national milk bread.
The Food Standards (Curry Powder) (Amendment) Regulations, 1956, and the Food
Standards (Tomato Ketchup) (Amendment) Regulations, 1956, permit curry powder to contain
up to 20 parts per million of lead, and permit tomato ketchup, catsup, sauce or relish to
contain up to 20 parts per million of copper instead of 50 parts per million calculated
on the dry solids. These small quantities are hardly likely to have an adverse effect
on the health of the consumers.
During the year the Food Standards Committee of the Ministry issued several Reports:-
The Report on processed cheese and cheese spread recommends that processed Cheddar
or Cheshire cheese shall contain not more than 42 per cent. of moisture and that the
butterfat content of the dry matter shall not be less than 48 per cent. In the case of
other processed cheese it is recommended that the moisture shall be not more than 45 per
cent. and the butterfat not less than 45 per cent. on the dry matter. For cheese spreads
it is recommended that the maximum moisture content shall be 60 per cent, and that the
minimum butterfat content of the product as sold shall be not less than 20 per cent.
The Report on Sausages recommends that pork sausages shall contain not less than
65 per cent, of meat, whilst sausages made from beef, mutton, bacon, ham, lamb, veal,
edible offals, poultry, game, rabbit, hare, and venison shall contain not less than 50
per cent. of meat and that the quantity of fat shall be not more than 50 per cent. of the
total meat in any type of sausage. A majority of the Committee recommended that with
pork and beef sausages the pork or beef content of the meat portion shall be not less
than four fifths of the total meat. A minority thought that the meat should be solely
that by which the sausage is named. Your analyst agrees with the minority especially as
with both pork and beef the religious susceptibilities of members of the Commonwealth may
be grievously offended at the idea of unwittingly eating prohibited meats. It is
doubtful whether the Committee even considered this aspect of the matter.
Finally a revised Report was issued giving recommendations for limits of the
copper contents in foods. The general recommendations are that ready-to-drink beverages
should contain not more than 2 parts per million of copper, other beverages 10 parts per
million, and that foods generally should contain not more than 20 parts per million.
There are, however certain recommended exceptions, which need not be mentioned in this
report. It will suffice to mention that some authorities have been pressing to
introduce legislation to prohibit the use of any chemicals in food, whose presence cannot
be detected. Your analyst feels that the Council will offer him their sympathy should
such legislation be enacted.
In conclusion it may not be out of place to mention that as chairman of the
Standards Committee of the Association of Public Analysts your analyst has had the
opportunity to see much behind the scenes and he looks forward to the not far distant
future when most matters regarding the composition, description, and advertising of
foods will be arranged by friendly negotiation with trade organisations and when the
threat of legal action will be a thing of the past except for the few. who think only
of themselves.
Most manufacturers and caterers are honest and they realise that food administration
Protects them from frivolous and even wrongful complaints because after all, the real aim
of society, whatever be one's walk in life, is to serve the public interest.
Thomas McLachlan.
A.C.G.F.C.. F.R.I.C.