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Smoked oysters in cottonseed oil contravened the Merchandise Marks Act, as only the
name of the packer was given. They must bear a note stating whether they are British or foreign
produce. A can of cooked cockles contained only 45 per cent of cockles and 55 per cent surrounding
liquor. It was considered there should be at least 50 per cent of cockles present.
Several cans of rhubarb were submitted because of a complaint that the rhubarb was
unsatisfactory. The interior of the complaint can was slightly attacked although the rhubarb
appeared to be satisfactory, whereas the interiors of two other cans were definitely unsatisfactory,
the lacquer having come away from the tinplate in several places although the rhubarb was not
badly discoloured.
One sample of glace cherries was fermenting, whilst another was heavily infected with
yeasts so that they would gradually ferment.
A product sold as sliced onions was satisfactory as such, but in the opinion of your
analyst it should be described as "Sliced onions in water".
Some canned peas were submitted because they possessed an unpleasant odour and
flavour and although this was thought probably to have been caused by carelessness in the
factory concerned it was difficult to give any definite opinion. A can of Gungo peas contained,
in fact, processed peas and the contents must be labelled accordingly.
A jar of mixed fruit jam contained on the bottom 0.33 of a gram of iron scale in a large
number of fragments. Some lemon cheese was stated to contain lemon peel but no other ingredients
were mentioned, thus contravening the Labelling of Food Order. It was also 33 per cent deficient
in lemon oil, containing not more than 0.08 per cent of volatile oil, whereas the Food Standards
Preserves Order requires .125 per cent of lemon oil.
Some pickling spice was infested with beetles, probably Carpophilus dimidiatus. These
are small beetles commonly found in spice. A ground ginger compound, and some ground cinnamon,
contained respectively 23 parts per million and 20 parts per million of copper. The recommended
limit is 20 parts per million, although there is no statutory limit. Another sample of ground ginger
was high in ash and acid insoluble ash due to an excessive quantity of soil being attached to
the roots. This sample was reported as inferior because if ginger root is washed too much to
remove the earth there is a tendency to remove the flavour.
Some malt vinegar contained 1.03 per cent of salt which was not declared. If salt is
added as a preservative its presence must be declared. A pickle was stated to contain "Thick
fruit sauce" the ingredients of which were not disclosed. Although thick fruit sauce is exempt
from declaration of ingredients under the Labelling of Food Order, it is not exempt when forming
a constituent of some other food. A tomato sauce was labelled as containing "Solution of acetic
acid", but the correct description is "Acetic acid", which must be placed in its proper position
in the list of ingredients.
A mixed vegetable produce described as "Thick Calaloo" was also incorrectly labelled
as it was stated to contain "M.S.G." This must be described as "Monsodium glutamate".
A chop sauce listed amongst its ingredients "Acetic Acid (Sol.)" which is not the recognised
name, and should have been declared as "Acetic acid". An Italian dressing listed the
ingredients in the wrong order.
A bottle of lemonade was submitted because it possessed a strong odour of phenol
disinfectant. The stopper had previously been used in a bottle containing some type of sanitary
fluid, with the result that some of the phenols had been absorbed into the rubber gasket.
A sample of whisky was only 63.36 per cent proof strength, whereas the Food and Drugs
Act stipulates 65 per cent. This whisky, therefore, contained 2.5 per cent excess water.
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