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generic terms as "Edible gums". A canned cherry conserve was stated to contain cherries
and also "Cherros" which latter is not a recognised name for any food. The cherries
themselves were artificially coloured and the presence of the dye must be declared. An
apple pie filling and a blackcurrant pie filling were both thickened with starch, and
should therefore have been labelled as " Prepared" or "Processed".
Some herrings in aspic were satisfactory but the label in German did not comply with
our Labelling of Food Regulations as there was no information about the weight of contents,
nor were the ingredients themselves disclosed.
Some pistachio nuts were contaminated with the webbing and larvae of the Tinea
Granella moth. Of three cans of Congo or Pigeon peas examined the contents of two consisted
of processed peas and should have been labelled accordingly. A complaint was
received regarding a fly found in a can of tomatoes. As the fly was sterile it was evident
thatithad been in the tomatoes when they were canned.
Some cooked groats were found to be infested with the golden spider beetle. There
was a small hole in the bottom of the carton through which a beetle had entered, and there
were six holes in the bag containing the groats. Judging by the code number the carton was
not of the newest stock and it was difficult to state where the infestation had occurred.
Two samples of brown gravy sauce were labelled as containing Soya Sauce, but this
is not a sufficient description for an extract obtained from the soya bean. Two Polish
products were labelled as "Sauce" when they were in fact sauce mixes. There were also
various other minor errors on the labels.
Some ground coriander contained an excessive quantity of acid-insoluble ash,
namely 2.14%. The British Pharmacopoeia allows a maximum of 1.5%, and most samples
of ground coriander have an acid-soluble ash of about 0.7%. Two samples of nutmeg
flavour were incorrectly described as they consisted of an alcoholic solution of the
essential oil of nutmeg, and must be labelled as "Essence of Nutmeg". There was a
further error as the name and address of the manufacturer or packer were not included on
the label.
Some Tamarinds were found to be extremely dirty and it was considered that the owner
of the shop required some instruction in the hygienic handling of food. A product submitted
as Jeera Powder consisted of ground cumin seed containing 12% of ash and 3% of
acid-insoluble ash. There is no standard for cumin seed in this country but in the United
States the total ash must not be more than 9.5% and the acid-insoluble ash 1.5%. Another
product submitted as gram masala resembled a curry powder rather than a mixed spice. It
contained 33 parts per million of copper which is 65% in excess of the quantity suggested
by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 1958.
Two cans of cooked mussels were also incorrectly labelled as the ingredients listed
"Solution of acetic acid". There is no recognised "Solution of acetic acid" though it
would be permissible to state "Solution of acetic acid (15%) so much per cent". Both
products contained more acetic acid than salt and the ingredients must be disclosed in
the correct order.
Samples of celery salt contained respectively salt 50.8% and 55.4% and celery seed
49.2% and 44.6%. If the manufacturers wish to label this product as celery salt they
should put in about 60% of celery seed and 40% of salt.
A sample of Plant Milk was satisfactory as a substitute for milk, but there were
several minor errors on the label, which required amendment.
During the year an agreement was reached between the packers of "Beans in Tomato
Sauce" and representatives of local authorities. Several samples were examined and, in
the opinion of your analyst the representatives of local authorities have been badly misled
in agreeing the standards, since no member of the public would be satisfied with products,
which would comply with the lowest agreed standards.
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