View report page

147
Cream cheese has often given difficulty and lately I had a sample
called "Triple Cream Cheese." It is difficult to decide what these
words mean. The specimen in question was no more or less than an
ordinary whole milk cheese, so 1 recommended that the label should be
altered.
It is hoped that some of the administrative difficulties which arise
in connection with the Food and Drugs Acts will be cleared up now
that the new Food and Drugs Act, 1938, has been passed. This Act
takes effect on October 1st next and tightens the law in several
directions. It also gives power to the Minister to make Regulations
governing the composition and purity of food-stuffs and it may be
hoped that he will, after due enquiry, fix standards for certain of the
more important commodities. In my view standards are desirable in
two directions—the prevention of excessive dilution and the sale of
inferior products which prejudice the pocket of the purchaser; the
other in the setting of limits for certain impurities arising either by
deliberate addition as in the case of tin in sugar or by accidental contamination
during manufacture.
Notwithstanding these various adulterations and difficulties the
food sold in the Borough is as a whole very good. The rate of
adulteration is 5 2 per cent., but even this figure may be misleading
because it naturally happens that more samples are taken of commodities
which are likely to be adulterated or which are suspected than of
foods which experience shows are not frequently adulterated.
I have the honour to remain,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) H. E. COX,
Borough Analyst.