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75
[1931
ADULTERATION OF FOOD AND DRUGS—FOOD AND DRUGS
(ADULTERATION) ACT, 1928.
During the year 1,250 samples of foods and drugs, including C15 informal
samples, were submitted for analysis by Mr. Green, the Food and Drugs Inspector,
who purchased the samples for submission to our Analyst, Dr. Alan W. Stewart.
Of the total samples 1,200 were reported to be genuine and 50 adulterated, or
4.0 per cent. This percentage is 0.2 above the previous year, and 3.4 below the
average rate during the preceding 10 years.
(In addition to this work, the Inspector paid 980 visits to premises, under
Merchandise Marks Act.)
It is interesting to record that action in two special misdescriptions in which
the articles received were not what the public would expect, "Cheese Sandwiches.''
A firm was summoned for having sold " Cheese Sandwiches" which
contained 85 per cent, of fat other than milk fat. The Court eventually held that
the warranty, although granted through a third party, was good, and a case was
taken against the wholesaler as these " cheese sandwiches "had been falsely
described, it being actually proved they had been made of margarine "cheese."
It transpired at the final hearing of this case that " Biscuit Sandwiches "made
entirely with real cheese are not feasible, as they go mouldy in a very short time,
and it was pleaded that they were made with margarine in order that they might
be kept fit for sale in all parts of the world. The wholesale firm undertook to alter
the name of the commodity.
Black Currant Pastilles.—A sample of black currant pastilles was
bought at a cut price confectionery shop, and on analysis no trace of real black
currant was found. It was stated in evidence that people expected to get something
at a cut price shop which they would attain elsewhere at a higher price, that
was t:> say, that the lowness of the price did not warn people that they might not
be getting the genuine article. Expert evidence was given to prove that a black
currant pastille was understood in the trade to mean a pastille made with black
currant juice. It was stated that it was not known what the flavouring matter in
black currant was, and therefore it was not possible to prepare a synthetic essence
which was identical with the genuine juice. The Magistrate said he felt obliged
to rule that if a person asked for a black currant pastille he expected to get an
article which contained some identifiable ingredient which originated from the
black currant.
During the year 1931 in addition to the samples taken and submitted to the
Public Analyst there was a total of 191 informal samples which were examined by
the Food and Drugs Inspector. These informal samples comprised a number of
varied articles.