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101
In these various meat preparations there has been a great reduction
in the amount of boric acid used as compared with previous years. In
one sample of bacon examined 9 grains boric acid per pound was found.
Tinned Meat,—In 15 samples of potted meats 5 were found to
contain preservatives to the amount of 1½, 9, 12.39, 1.8 and 19.8 grains
per pound.
Fish.—Fourteen samples of fish, fresh, filletted and cured, were
examined. One "fresh" haddock (taken unofficially) was found to
contain 21.07 grains of boric acid per pound. A sample of filletted cod
was found to have the skin dyed with an organic dye; the analyst
reported: " The proportion of the dye found is extremely small, too
minute in fact for determination, and there is no reason for supposing
that it is in any way injurious or that its use would serve any fraudulent
purpose, so that in the absence of any further information I only regard
the offence as a technical one."
Tinned Vegetables.—The use of copper sulphate as a colouring agent
has been reduced by the action of the Council to small amounts—under
2 grains per pound. One retailer was cautioned for selling spinach
with over this amount.
Drugs.—Boric ointment was purchased 9 times and found to be
satisfactory except in one instance; this sample contained 11 per cent.
of the drug instead of 10 per cent. The ointment in question was
procured by the retailer from a wholesale firm, who had another sample
examined which was found to be of correct strength but a little lumpy.