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118
Cream Confectionery.—Samples of cream confectionery were, as a
general rule, found to contain real cream, but one of cream gateau contained
a substance resembling cream but which was not cream in fact.
Cream.—The use of false or misleading labels on tins of cream is well
illustrated by one of the series of samples among which the following
labels were found :—
1. " Finest Rich Thick Cream."
2. " Pure Thick Devonshire Cream—Rich English Cream."
3. " Guaranteed absolutely pure. Absolutely free from preservatives
or other foreign substances. A small percentage of cane sugar
is added to bring out the full rich flavour of the cream."
Since all of these samples were very poor in fat, the use of the word
"Rich" constitutes false description. In regard to the last example
the second sentence on the label is flatly contradicted by the third
sentence, for cane sugar is a foreign ingredient in cream.
Jam.—Two samples of apricot jam, were also found to bear false labels.
One was 20 per cent, deficient in apricots and the other 25 per cent,
deficient. Both were sold as " Full fruit standard " jam and should
therefore have complied with the agreed standard of 40 per cent, of the
named fruit.
Drugs.—A sample of sulphur lozenges was 50 per cent, deficient in
sulphur. Although sulphur lozenges were omitted from the British
Pharmacopoeia, 1932, they were transferred to the British Pharmaceutical
Codex, 1934. Moreover, the fact that a preparation has been dropped
from the Pharmacopoeia does not entitle manufacturers to make a similar
product of lesser strength and to utilise the former official name for
such a medicine.
Presert in Food.—A sample of sausages, sold without the required
declaration of the presence of preservative, contained sulphur dioxide to
the extent of parts per million.
Two samples of cheese, both from the same vendor, one informal and
the other formal, were found to contain boric acid, one of the substances
prohibited by the Public Health (Preservatives, &c., in Food) Regulations.