View report page

64
41 Meat Pies—28 genuine; 13 contained boric acid. (Two prosecutions.
One case vendor ordered to pay £1 1s. costs—23 grains
per lb; the other summons withdrawn on warranty being
proved—29.4 grains per lb.)
68 Fish and Meat Pastes—64 genuine; 4 contained boric acid in
small quantities. (No prosecutions.)
Tinned Vegetables.—There is a decided improvement in the number of
samples of peas containing no colouring matter, and those that did contain
sulphate of copper (21 samples out of 48) varied in amounts from 0.8 to
3.9 grains per lb. In 8 cases summary proceedings were taken,
copper was found in the following quantities:—1.69, 2, 2.1, 2.49,
2.69, 2.6, 3.16, and 3.9 grains per lb. In the samples of beans 7 cases
were found to contain copper in amounts varying from 0.46 to 2.8 grains
per lb. (2 cases prosecuted—2.8 and 1.5). In the 3 spinach cases the
amounts were 0.67, 2 and 5.5 grains per lb. The two latter were prosecuted,
one case convicted and one dismissed by the magistrate on the
evidence of the defendants that they were wholesale dealers only and
that the tin with which the inspector was served, after he had insisted on
being served, was a sample tin kept there for window dressing and was
not intended for sale. Proceedings are not taken if the amount of
copper is under 2 grains, and proper disclosure of its presence is
given.
Refusal to sell.—Two vendors, one in respect of a sample of beans and
the other for peas, were prosecuted for refusing to sell to the inspector
for the purpose of analysis—the first was fined £3 and £1 costs and the
latter fined £3.
Tinned Fruits.—Out of 46 samples of various fruit, 7 were reported
adulterated and contained tin in the following quantities:—3, 1.79, 1.65,
0.82, 0.82, 0.55 and 0.41. Summary proceedings were taken against
the vendor of the first sample, and after hearing the evidence the magistrate
ordered £1 1s. costs to be paid.
Prescriptions.—45 prescriptions were submitted to various pharmaceutical
chemists. The medicines as made up were, with one exception,
accurately dispensed. This sample was deficient in ammonium chloride
to the extent of 40 per cent. The vendor was prosecuted and fined £10
and £1 1s. costs.
Food Preservatives.—In response to a public demand, the Minister of
Health has appointed a committee to enquire into the use of preservatives
and colouring matters in food and to report—