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86
PUBLIC HEALTH (PRESERVATIVES IN FOOD)
REGULATIONS, 1925.
As reported last year, strict supervision has been maintained over
food imported into the Borough, for the purposes of the above Regulations,
and many samples have been taken by me and examined by the
Public Analyst.
Lead in Sardines has slowly decreased to 5 and under 5 parts per
million.
During the year my attention was drawn to the large quantities of
copper contained in certain brands of Tomato Puree. Later in the year
this resulted in a Conference being called of all Port Medical Officers
and Officers of the Ministry of Health.
At this Conference it was decided to deal with the matter on similar
lines to those adopted for the abolition of lead in Sardines. Accordingly,
all importers have been warned that as and from 1st January, 1939, all
Tomato Puree with copper content exceeding 50 parts per million of the
dried material will be condemned as unfit for food. It has also been
pointed out that this quantity is not final and that in due course an even
less copper content will be demanded.
125 samples of foodstuffs were taken at the Wharves and submitted
to the Public Analyst. Details of the results of analysis are shown in
the following tables.