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76
PUBLIC ANALYST,S ANNUAL REPORT, 1924.
During the year 1924, 764 samples were examined under the Sale
of Food and Drugs Acts, of which 28 samples, or 3.7 per cent., were
found to be adulterated. The amount of adulteration is identical with
that of the previous year. In addition, 61 samples, or 8.0 per cent.,
were reported as of poor quality or doubtful purity.

The average adulteration for the whole of London in 1923 was 4.6
per cent., and for the whole of the country 6.1 per cent.
The number of samples examined was in the ratio of 4.7 per 1,000
of the population, as compared with 8.5 per 1,000 for the whole of London,
and 3.0 per 1,000 for the whole of the country.
Twenty-one out of the 764 samples were purchased informally, two
samples were submitted by the public, and one sample was submitted by
the police. Three unofficial samples were adulterated.
Preservatives.
The Departmental Committee appointed to enquire into the use of
preservatives and colouring matters in food issued their final report
during the year.
After careful consideration of the subject from all sides, they
decided to recommend that some of the commonly used preservatives
like boracic acid, borax, formalin and salicylic acid should be prohibited,
and the permitted preservatives be restricted to two kinds only, the
comparatively harmless sulphur-dioxide and benzoic acid, within definite
limits. Moreover, they decided that the variety of foods to which these
preservatives may be added should be also definitely restricted to those
which it would be difficult to keep sound otherwise. A further useful
recommendation made was that wherever possible the presence of preservatives
should be declared on the label.