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31
COFFEE
In October an informal sample described as "Coffee" was found
on analysis to consist of a dry coffee extract. The manufacturers
were averse to calling their product a coffee extract, and claimed
it was soluble coffee and that accordingly there was no contravention
of the Labelling of Food Order.
Discussions were held with the Food Manufacturers' Federation,
and mutual agreement was reached on the re-wording of the label.
FOOD STANDARDS (TABLE JELLIES) AMENDMENT
ORDER, 1955
This order provides for the use of low setting gelatine and allows
a content of not less than 2½ ounces sugar per pint of prepared table
jelly sweet, as an alternative to the former standard of 84 per cent.
sugar content in jelly crystals.
TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS (MINISTRY OF FOOD)
ORDER, 1955
This Order dissolved the Ministry of Food and transferred most
of its functions to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
MYXOMATOSIS
In March, the Ministry of Food issued a circular that all carcases
of rabbits and hares infected with myxomatosis should be regarded
as unfit for human consumption. This followed a prosecution of a
trader who claimed that the virus of this disease is not communicable
to man.
FOOD AND DRUGS ACT, 1955
This Act will repeal the Food and Drugs Act, 1954, and consolidates
it together with the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, the Food
and Drugs (Milk, Dairies and Artificial Cream) Act, 1950 and
certain sections of the Slaughterhouses Act, 1954 and of the
Slaughter of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1954. The new Act will
come into effect on 1st January, 1956.
Some of the more important changes in the law are as follows :
Provides that the probable cumulative effects of consuming food
injurious to health should be taken into consideration; gives power
for a Court to disqualify a caterer convicted of a serious offence
against the Regulations; contains new provisions as to description
of cream substitutes; certain important changes in the procedure
for sampling and analysis; gives powers to enter ships, aircraft,
vehicles, etc.; the time limit within which a prosecution must be