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118
Adulterated Samples other than Milk.
Cream Confectionery.—Seventeen samples of cream confectionery
were purchased, nine of which were found to contain a filling which
had the composition of margarine fat. In the remaining eight the filling
proved to be genuine milk fat. These samples were purchased in order
to collect evidence of the extent to which cream, other than
genuine fresh cream, is used in the manufacture of cream confectionery
with a view to such evidence being submitted to the Ministry of
Health for their consideration. There is no doubt that the
use of genuine fresh cream as a filling in cream confectionery is
not attended with any practical difficulties, and it is satisfactory to
note that eight of the seventeen samples taken contained the genuine
article. It is manifestly unfair to those manufacturers of the
genuine article to know that cream confectionery sold perhaps by their
immediate competitors consists of a filling made from something different.
The purchaser, it is maintained, when demanding any of the several
varieties of cream confectionery expects to receive a confectionery
containing genuine milk fat, and the position should be made clear by
regulation that the term "cream" when applied to any article of food
means cream derived from the product of the cow.
Cream (tinned).—Two samples of tinned cream were purchased, one
of which was labelled "Pure Thick Devon Cream." The Public Analyst
was of opinion that a cream so labelled should contain at least 50 per
cent. of fat, whereas the sample in question contained only 24.4 per cent.
Proceedings were instituted, but the defendant submitted evidence that
it was impossible to produce palatable tinned cream with a fat content
of more than 27 per cent. owing to the sterilization and other processes
through which it must pass in order to be tinned, and that the word ''thick
was recognised as referring to the consistency (as opposed to liquid cream),
and had no implication of richness. The Magistrate accepted this evidence
and held that as members of the public were familiar with the two sorts
of cream they would not be misled by the label into imagining that the
cream was of similar richness to fresh clotted cream. The summons was
accordingly dismissed but no costs were ordered against the City Council
as the Magistrate considered that the case was a proper one for the Council
to have brought.
Drugs.—Forty samples of various drugs were analysed during the
year, of which five were found to be adulterated.