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84
be instituted. On the instructions of the Committee the attention
of the Ministry of Health was drawn to the matter and to the
desirability of amending the Public Health (Preservatives, etc., in
Food) Regulations so as to require the labelling of all foods which
contain preservatives.
The sample of bacon which was taken in course of delivery by a
wholesale merchant, was certified by the analyst to contain a boron
preservative equivalent to 7.7 grains crystallised boric acid per
lb. of bacon.
The use of boron preservatives is prohibited by the Public
Health (Preservatives, etc., in Food) Regulations, and proceedings
were by direction of the Health Committee taken against the vendors,
who were fined £15 and £3 3s. costs.
Flour.
Two samples of flour and 8 samples of self-raising flour
submitted for analysis were all reported as genuine. These samples
were all taken informally.
Rice.
Twenty-six samples of rice (22 formal and 4 informal) were
procured and submitted to the Public Analyst and all were reported
as genuine.
One sample was found to be polished by the aid of talc, and
was found to contain 0.44 per cent, of this substance. It is satis—
factory to note that only one sample was found to be treated in this
manner, the object of which is to improve the appearance of the
rice for the purpose of sale.
The polishing matter used, namely talc, is deleterious and the
Council some years ago, directed a circular letter to be addressed
to all dealers in rice, which apparently has had useful results.
Sago.
Four samples of sago, three of which were informal samples,
were examined during the year and one (informal) sample was
reported as consisting entirely of tapioca, obviously a mistake in the
article served.
Vinegar.
Fifty-two samples of vinegar, including 1 of malt vinegar, were
procured formally and submitted to the Public Analyst. Four
(7.7 per cent.) of these were reported to be deficient in acetic acid
to the extent of 4 per cent. (2 samples), 10 per cent., and 11 per
cent, respectively. Proceedings were instituted against the vendors
in the 2 last-mentioned cases (vide pp. 66 and 67), and the vendors
of the 2 remaining samples were cautioned.