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I am grateful for the continued co operation of the Ministry of Food
and the food traders in connection with numerous problems of food
salvage.
Food Premises and Restaurant Sanitation.
It is more than ever necessary to emphasise the special need for
cleanliness in every phase of food production.
Section 13 of the Food and Drugs Art, 1938, lays down specific require¬ments
for, not only the sanitation, ventilation and cleanliness of all
premises where food or drink is manufactured or sold, but also for the
cleanliness of the apparatus and utensils used, the provision of proper
and adequate washing facilities for the staff, and the cleanliness of the
staff.
Food Adulteration,
500 samples were taken during the year by the Sampling Officers under
the Food and Drugs Act, 1938. The number certified to be adulterated
was eighteen, or 3.6 per cent. Particulars of the adultered samples
are as follows :—
Articles of Food. How adulterated.
No. 26 Concentrated Artificial Vinegar Contains excessive Acetic Acid, 70 per cent.
No. 29 Milk (informal) Defective in Milk fat—13 per cent.
No. 37 Gelatine Contains high percentage of copper—
50 parts per million.
No. 48
No. 59 Coffee and Chicory (informal) Contains only 1.2 per cent, caffeine.
No. 65 Gelatine Contains excessive proportion of Ash,
Copper and Arsenic.
No. 72 Self-raising flour Deficient in Carbon dioxide.
No. 77 Salt Anchovies Contains high percentage of lead—12 parts
per million.
No. 92 Rum and Orange Does not comply with Food Labelling
Order.
No. 93 Jubilee Wine Cocktail „ ,, „
No. 125 Curry Powder Poor sample. Contains high percentage of
bean flour (15 per cent.) and 14 parts
per million lead.
No. 158 Mixed Spice Contains small live beetles.
No. 195 Margarine Contains 0.2 per cent. above the legal
standard of water.
No. 317 Starch Reduced Flour Does not comply with the Food Labelling
Order.
No. 318 Ginger Wine Concentrate ,, ,, „
No. 335 Primix Salad Dressing „ „ „
No. 339 Cocktail Tonic „ ,, „
No 438 Frying Oil This is a vegetable oil containing 6 per
cent. paraffin.
All the above offences were dealt with by means of warnings to
retailers and/or wholesalers and manufacturers, and where necessary the
attention of the Ministry of Food was drawn to the infringements of the
Labelling of Food Orders.
It is very gratifying to note that although the activities of the
Inspectors have ranged over a wide field, the results on the whole can be
classed as satisfactory.
Another noteworthy and pleasing factor is that this is almost the
first year in which it has not been found necessary to institute legal
proceedings in respect of the fraudulent adulteration of samples.