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87
From the figures in these Tables it would appear that
the percentage of adulterated samples (6.9) was unduly
high when compared with the figure for the whole of the
country, and the inference might be drawn that the traders
of Hammersmith are less honest than those in other parts
of the country.
When, however, the sources from which the samples
were taken and the reasons which lead to their being taken
are considered. Hammersmith traders are, to a large extent,
exonerated.
The analyses are discussed in the sections which now
follow, attention being directed to the new types of
adulteration encountered, as well as to numerous instances
of false or misleading labelling.
Milk.
Of the three hundred and seventy milks examined
eighteen were adulterated and fifty were classed as inferior
because they were poor in fat. The percentage of
adulterated samples is therefore 4.9 and that of inferior
samples is 13.5.
Eleven of the adulterated samples contained added water,
the amounts found ranging from 1.0 per cent. to 8.7 per
cent., while the remaining seven were deficient in fat, the
deficiencies being from 2.0 per cent. to 21.0 per cent.
A large percentage of London's milk supply is now
received in Hammersmith from farms in the country, '' processed
" in the Borough and distributed to different parts.
In addition to routine sampling by the Council's officers, a
careful check is kept upon the milk upon arrival by the
wholesale dairies, and when supplies from a particular farm
are suspected the Sampling Officer is called in.
Of the eighteen samples of milk reported '' adulterated ''
during the year, eleven were taken from churns consigned
by three farmers upon their arrival in the Borough, and
one was taken upon delivery to a school in Hammersmith
from a dairy in a neighbouring borough. The blame for
these adulterations cannot be placed upon Hammersmith