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unadulterated character of the food he sells, and should be left to his
remedy of proceedings against the wholesale vendor in any case of breach
of warranty.
The Committee recommended the Council to—
Concur in such opinion, and that representations on the subject
be made to the Board of Agriculture and the Local Government
Board.
Suggested Amendment of Public Health (Milk and Cream) Regulations,
1912.
The Public Health and Housing Committee considered the question
of taking proceedings in respect of a sample of milk taken for analysis
and found to contain a large proportion of formaldehyde as a preservative,
contrary to the provisions of the Public Health (Milk and Cream) Regulations,
1912. The milk was supplied to the vendor by a local dairyman
who obtained his supply from a Limited Company, who obtained it from
a farmer. All these had been written to for explanations, in accordance
with the regulations, and all denied the possibility of the addit ion of the
preservative while the milk was in their possession.
The Public Health and Housing Committee were advised, that in
view of the fact that wilful neglect to observe the regulations must be
proved to secure conviction, proceedings were not likely to be successful
in the absence of admission of the offence or of direct evidence against
either of the parties.
The Committee directed communications be addressed to the Local
Government Board and Board of Agriculture, urging amendment of the
regulations, to provide that the retailer should be liable in respect of
preservatives found in any milk or cream sold by him, and also that the
certificate of the Public Analyst should be accepted, without attendance
of the Analyst in case of Police Court proceedings, as in the case of
proceedings under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.
Facing or Polishing Rice for Sale.
The Council of the Royal Borough of Kensington called attention
to samples of rice found to contain various percentages of powdered talc,
. used for facing or polishing rice for sale, and had urged upon the Local
Government Board that the addition of any mineral matter to rice should
be totally prohibited, and the Council was asked to support such action.
The Public Health and Housing Committee recommended—
That the action of the Kensington Borough Council in this
matter be supported.