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297
[1912
INFORMAL SAMPLING OF FOODS.
Inspector Burrell has now been engaged on this work for nearly five years,
and without doubt has made a very considerable impression on the minds of
persons who habitually. sophisticate their goods, especially fraudulent dealers
in butter and milk, by whom there is no man more feared, which is all to his
credit. As the Public Health Committee, and, indeed, the Council,thoroughly
appreciate his services, there is no need to refer to them further.
He has, as usual, submitted a report to the Medical Officer of Health for
the information of the Public Health Committee, which is herewith appended.
Public Health Department,
Town Hall, N.
27th January, 1913
To the Medical Officer of Health.
Dear Sir,
As directed by you, and for the information of the Public Health Committee,
I have pleasure in submitting for your consideration the following
report on the testing of informal samples for the year ending 31st December,
1912:—
During the fourth quarter of 1911 and the early part of the first quarter
of 1912, the private inquiry work necessitated by important cases made it quite
impossible for me to engage in the testing of preliminary samples, and if the
figures for adulteration over this period be examined, it will be seen that the
percentage fell to a trifle over 4 per cent., a figure which is, I believe, the lowest
on record in the history of the Borough.
In view of the wide range secured by our method of purchase, such a
result, while being gratifying as indicating a considerable decline in the rate
of adulteration generally, does not disclose a perfectly true state of affairs, as
it must not be forgotten that those persons habitually practising adulteration
are rarely caught by the simple purchase of an official sample, and especially
is this the case where the offence is one of the substitution of margarine for
butter. The decrease in the adulteration rate, therefore, while indicating a
real decrease in adulteration, was also largely due to the suspension of the
testing of preliminary samples over the period in question, a statement which
is borne out by the fact that 55.5 per cent. of the total prosecutions for the
year arose directly from this work.