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" We think the main thing to be aimed at is that the public, when buying any important
article of food, should know what they are getting. A considerable amount of elasticity
must be allowed in the preparation of many articles, and we should recommend that the
power to fix standards or definitions should only be used where it is shown that it is necessary
for the protection of the public health (including nutrition) or the protection of the pocket of
the consumer."
" A number of our witnesses have complained of the misleading nature of some food
advertisements and food labels. We are satisfied that these complaints are well founded.
The Food Manufacturers' Federation, Patent and Proprietary Foods Section, put the following
recommendation before us :—
" ' It is our opinion that any attempt to control by statute statements about the
composition of food will be stultified unless it is legally enacted that, for purposes of
evidences as to the nature, quality and substance demanded of a food specific claims
made in advertisements shall be deemed to be part of the package label. Though it
is theoretically true that the purchaser is expected to examine the label of a product
before he completes its purchase, it is a matter of common knowledge that the vast
majority of purchasers do not do so. The description on which they have been induced
to buy the product is in a large number of cases only that contained in the advertisements,
and we hold very strongly that progress in the standardisation and description
of food will be seriously hampered until this matter is dealt with.'
" We agree with the principle of this recommendation."
It will be seen that the departmental committee were, with limitations, in favour of the fixing
of food standards and the prescribing of labels, but no measures have yet been introduced to give
effect to the committee's recommendations.
Some success has been obtained in Kensington by the issue of circular letters to traders, particularly
with regard to cream confectionery and vinegar, and experience has shown that traders
generally are only too anxious to co-operate with the council in their endeavours to safeguard the
interests of the consumer. Unfortunately, however, there are in every area a few traders who are
not influenced by appeals from the local authority, and the present position of the law makes it
difficult to take action against them. Their practice enables them to compete unfairly with other
traders, and tends to induce a form of competition which is not to the advantage of the consumer.
Moreover, action taken by the Kensington borough council constitutes a source of grievance to
retailers in this borough, for their competitors in other areas may not be subjected to the same
restrictions.
It is therefore too much to hope that local authorities can, without the assistance of further
legislation, tackle successfully all the problems referred to.
The Public Health (Condensed Milk) Regulations, 1923-27, and the Public Health (Dried Milk)
Regulations, 1923-27.—During the year, nine samples of condensed milk were taken, and each was
found to comply with the regulations in every respect. No samples of dried milk were examined.
Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1933.—This act and the rules made thereunder, both of which
came into operation during 1936, have for their object the closer control of the sale of poisons and
poisonous substances.
The act provides for the preparation by a poisons board of a poisons list divided into two parts
and called part 1 and part 2. Part 1 contains the names of those poisons usually known as deadly,
and these may now be sold only by registered pharmacists. Part 2 contains the names of those
poisons commonly in use for domestic, horticultural, agricultural and sanitary purposes ; these
may be sold, not only by registered pharmacists, but also by traders whose names are entered in
a list kept by the local authority. Entries in such list are for a period not exceeding twelve months
and terminating on a date fixed by the local authority. When the council considered the act and
rules, they decided that all entries in their list should be in respect of the twelve months commencing
on the 1st May of each year.
It is the duty of the council to enforce the new requirements so far as they relate to the sale
of part 2 poisons (except by pharmacists, who are supervised by the Pharmaceutical Society), and
for this purpose they have appointed the medical officer of health, the deputy medical officer of
health, and the food inspector as inspectors under the act.
In accordance with the decision of the public health committee, application forms for registration,
together with an explanatory leaflet were circulated to those traders in the borough likely to be
affected. Upon receipt of the application form duly completed an abridged copy of the poisons
rules was sent to each applicant; his premises were subsequently inspected in order to ascertain
whether he should be registered and also whether he was familiar with the new requirements.
During the year 210 applications for entry in the council's list were received, and in every
instance the application was granted.