View report page

96
Self-raising Flour," the words "Egg Substitute" being
in much smaller type than the rest of the title. On the
other side of the bag the flour was described as "Egg
Self-raising Flour—no eggs or baking powder required."
Condiments, Spices, &c.
A variety of articles to be classified under this heading,
totalling thirty-five, were analysed; three of them were
adulterated.
A celery salt was found to be contaminated with both
iron and tin, and since the tinned-iron bottom and cap
of the container were corroded the metallic contamination
obviously came from this source. The amount of iron
found was 0.25 per cent. and the amount of tin was onethird
of a grain per pound. It is understood that no other
faulty packages were discovered upon examination of the
rest of the stock by the Sampling Officer.
Two specimens of mint sauce were found to consist of
mint, vinegar and sugar, and were artificially coloured
green. The label in both instances claimed that the sauce
was prepared with malt vinegar, but on analysis the claims
could not be substantiated, so the samples were reported
adulterated. In a prosecution which followed, the Court
accepted the plea of the makers that distilled malt vinegar
had been used, and dismissed the case, but without costs
against the Council.
In a sample of iodised salt a determination of the iodine
present indicated six parts per million.
In a report such as this wherein so many cases of false
or misleading labelling have to be chronicled, it is refreshing
to call attention to one which went far in pursuit of the
truth. A bottle of vinegar was labelled " Non-brewed
Artificial Vinegar, made from acetic acid diluted with
water." The manufacturers, probably having in mind the
result of a recent London appeal case, apparently desired
to leave nothing to chance in their description of the article.
Nevertheless, they are to be congratulated upon their frankness.