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from 3.5 to 18 grains per lb. There does not appear to be any rule or
method in adding this preservative, as the amounts varied within these
limits as much in the cold months as in the hot. Possibly, some dairymen
add the acid to cream left over on Saturdays, as the average of the
samples taken on Saturday nights, Sunday mornings and Monday
mornings is higher than that on other days. The samples of Devonshire
clotted cream were both free from preservatives. Of the
remainder those sold in bottles were free from preservatives, one was
bottled in England and one in Holland; five put up in tins were also
free from preservatives, and came from Austria, Switzerland and
Norway. They had evidently been pasteurised or sterilized by heat.
The jar creams were all prepared in England, and all contained
boracic acid in very varying proportions—7.7 to 38.4 grains per lb.
Samples were taken in the months of February, April, May, June, July
and October. In February one had 6.5 grains, others 15 to 17.5
grains; in April one had 38.4 grains, others 14 to 18.3 grains; in May
17 grains; in June one had 7.7 grains; three varied from 12.8 to 15.2;
one had 19.3 and the others 28.5 to 32.5 grains; in July the lowest
were 16, 16.8 and 19; six ranged from 21 to 23 grains; three went up
to 32 and one to over 42 grains; in October the amount varied between
22 and 26.5 grains. Apparently some dairies add more of the acid in
the hot months, but others seem to find 16 or 17 grains sufficient all
the year round.
The Public Health Committee are of opinion that boracic acid is a
drug which should not be used in human food, and they have been
struck by the indiscriminate and loose manner of its use which
analyses of cream and other articles of food has revealed to them.
While holding the opinion that other and better methods can and
ought to be employed, they have been guided in legal actions which
they have taken by the recommendation of the Departmental Committee,
which reported in 1901 "that the only preservative which it
shall be lawful to use in cream be boric acid or mixtures of boric acid
and borax, and in amount not exceeding 0.25 per cent. expressed as
boric acid" (that is 17½ grains per lb.), "the amount of such preservative
to be notified by a label on the vessel." A number of summonses
have been taken out in cases where this amount has been materially
exceeded, and the Police Magistrates, who have heard the cases, have
expressed the opinion that the Council had taken a line of action to
which traders ought not to object. It transpired, however, that the
cream trade is of opinion that not less than 35 grains was absolutely
necessary, and with the hope of obtaining a decision which would
justify them in adding this amount they resolved to appeal in one of
the cases, selecting for that purpose the case of Cullen, in which 21.91