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powers granted by the Food and Drugs Act, these Codes provide
a most useful measure by which the quality of food is maintained.
Finally we have accepted trade standards maintained by the manufacturers.
All these standards, some new, some of many years'
standing, call for methods of analysis of known accuracy, and
with the advance of knowledge, new methods are being devised
continually to provide accurate checks upon the nature and
composition of foodstuffs.
Orders and Regulations introduced during the year have
included an amended Arsenic in Food Regulation dealing with the
maximum amount of arsenic permitted in yeast and yeast products,
and a Regulation to enable consumers to distinguish between whole
milk and " filled " milk. The latter material may be in liquid, dried
or condensed form but is in fact milk from which all the butter fat
or cream has been removed and replaced by a vegetable fat or some
fat other than milk fat.
Reports have also appeared on Bread and Flour, Antioxidants
in food and amended methods and Standards for the examination
of " designated " milk.
It is of interest that the year 1960 saw the centenary of the
first attempt to maintain standards of purity for food. The first
Food Act was passed in 1860, and this and succeeding Acts have
had a profound and marked effect upon the quality of food, not
only in this country but throughout the world.
I am, Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
C. Harcourt Wordsworth,
Public Analyst.