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designations in relation to the retail sales of milk, while the Minister
of Food approved the addition of certain oxidising and preservative
agents to the list authorised under the Milk and Dairies Regulations,
1949.
Coffee.—The Food Standards (Coffee Mixtures) Order, 1952,
which came into force on 21st September of this year, prescribed
standards for coffee and chicory mixtures.
General.—The Mineral Oil in Food (Amendment) Order, 1952,
restricts the allowable quantity of mineral oil remaining after
surface treatment of dried fruit and also the oil content in foods
in which dried fruit has been used.
Permission to affix Royal titles, emblems and photographs on
boxes, caskets, etc., to be used for Coronation souvenirs was granted
provided that such souvenirs should give the name of the manufacturer
and the nature of the contents on the base or inside the lid.
This, in actual fact, was a technical infringement of the Labelling
of Food Order, 1950, which demands particulars to be prominently
or conspicuously displayed. The Minister of Food confidently
expected Food and Drugs authorities to note this special consideration
and to take no exception to these Coronation souvenirs provided
the particulars required by the Labelling Order were given
on the base, inside the lid, on a loose label inside the container
or on an outer protective cover.
Milk.—Milk consists of approximately 87% of water holding
proteins, sugar and certain salts in solution and having suspended
in it finely divided globules of fat to which the milk owes its whiteness.
This most important food is used in many familiar ways. It
is encountered in many beverages, hot and cold, and is a staple
constituent in numerous food preparations.
Milk, as drawn aseptically from a healthy cow, contains few
bacteria but as it forms an excellent medium for the growth of
organisms every precaution should be taken to prevent its
contamination.
Wise application of many branches of science is required for
the production and distribution of a pure milk supply. The
hygienic handling of milk is of vital importance to the health and
well-being of the nation and the eradication of bovine Tuberculosis,
Typhoid and Undulant Fever, Diarrhoea and many other diseases is
largely dependent on this factor. It is, therefore, to be expected
that this commodity formed the largest class of food sampled during
the year.