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70
Special attention has been given to canned foods. Owing to
their action upon the containers these foods are liable to metallic
contamination, particularly when a poor quality of tin-plate has
been used, or when a long period has elapsed between the packing
and the sale to the public. A Local Government Report, No. 7
of 1908, stated that "the presence of tin in quantities approaching
two grains to the pound may be taken to signify that the food has
become potentially deleterious to health." Two samples contained
more than this proportion of tin:—one of Sild, containing 2.66
grains per pound; and one of Kipper Snacks, containing 4.13
grains per pound. In addition to these the following samples
contained tin in quantities exceeding one grain per pound:—
Sild, 6 samples, 1.25, 1.34, 1.36, 1.62, 1.63 and 1.96 grains per
pound respectively.
Kipper Snacks, 2 samples, 1.18 and 1.20 grains per pound
respectively.
Grapefruit, one sample, 1.34 grains per pound.
Tomatoes, 1.03 grains per pound.
All the remaining samples of canned foods examined contained
tin in proportions less than one grain per pound.
Considerable improvement has taken place in recent years
in the packing of these foods. Soldered cans are now rarely used,
and further protection is afforded by lacquering the interior of the
cans. In my experience very little corrosive action takes place on
the tin-plate when this lacquering is well done.
Three samples of Self-raising Flour, certified to be not genuine,
were of unusual composition. One sample was devoid of sodium
bicarbonate, an essential ingredient of this article, and contained
an excessive amount of ammonium persulphate. The remaining
two samples in each case contained not less than 20 per cent. of
potato starch."
In regard to the samples of Self-raising Flour referred to
above, proceedings were instituted against the vendors but the case
was dismissed on the Defendant pleading warranty. The Council
took a serious view of this case and ordered proceedings to be taken
against the manufacturer for giving a false warranty.
It was pointed out on behalf of the Council that the addition
of 20% potato starch was a very serious adulteration, and made
it quite impossible for the housewife to got the result desired, quite
apart from the deleterious effect on the food value of the flour.
Although there is no statutory declaration as to what is Self-raising
Flour it is the accepted opinion of the Trado that it is flour of wheat