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56
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL ANALYST
(THOMAS McLACHLAN D.C.M., A. C. G. F. C . F. R. I.C., M. I. Biol. )
During the year 1961. 800 samples of food and drugs were examined. Of these 250
were taken formally and 550 informally.
The number adulterated or about which some comment was made was 42 The incidence
of complaint may be classified as follows:-
Number of samples
examined
Number of samples
adulterated, etc.
Milk 65 1
Other foods 716 41
Drugs 19
Two dirty milk bottles were examined as a result of complaints regarding their
cleanliness. One contained a film consisting of dried milk which had become mouldy, and
although the bottle had been through the washing machine, the dried milk had not been
removed or detected by the bottle inspector before it had been filled The second
bottle had a number of black patches adherent to the inner side. These patches consisted
of what appeared to be very fine homogeneous particles of coke or anthracite coal cemented
together in larger or smaller clumps by mould mycelium. As the milk appeared to be
satisfactory and the bottle was not dirty over the whole of the inner surface it was
obvious that the bottle had passed through the washing process, but that this had been
insufficient to attack all the stale moulded milk and other residues.
Several cans of pork luncheon meat were submitted, and of these three were badly
swollen due to bacterial decomposition. The contents of a fourth can were badly
decomposed but the can showed no signs of swelling owing to the absence of gas producing
bacteria. These had all been improperly sterilised.
A sample of margarine was found to show many dark areas on the outside surface due
to a mould growth. The manufacturers expressed their regret at the occurrence and
stated that this had been caused by the introduction of a new packing process, which had
resulted in the parchment wrappers of their margarine being perforated in places with
pinholes with the resultant introduction of mould spores. These spores had germinated
and caused the dark patches.
A sample of bread had a very yeasty odour, and it was thought that the loaf had been
wrapped warm and then kept warm for some time. A slice of white bread contained a brown
streak consisting of a piece of wholemeal bread which had been folded into the loaf
during the moulding process. Both these complaints were considered to be due to carelessness
in the bakery. A swiss bun contained a match which had been embedded in the
dough before the bun was baked.
Some glace cherries were fermenting and contained 0.24 per cent of alcohol due to
the addition of insufficient sugar. Twenty five per cent of the cherries in another
sample had been bird pecked. Glace cherries are used for decoration and should therefore
be hand picked to ensure perfect quality.
A sample of mixed peel was oxidised and possessed an objectionable odour This was
probably old stock Some currants contained 9 maggots and a stone, and were therefore
reported as adulterated.
A blackcurrant health drink was stated to contain 20 mg. of vitamin C per fluid
ounce when in fact it contained only 16.4 mg. This was probably due to deterioration
owing to faulty manufacture or storage or both. During the year your analyst made a
fairly extensive survey of samples of blackcurrant syrups on the market and submitted a
copy of his report to your medical officer of health.
Several samples of sage and parsley were high in ash. The samples of parsley
contained 14.7% 20.7%, 31.28% respectively and the sage 11.43% Another sample of