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318
1913]
INFORMAL SAMPLING OF FOOD.
As usual Inspector Burrell has informally sampled several of the
more common foods, and from a report which he has submitted to me
it is seen that it has resulted in the discovery of several delinquents
who might otherwise have escaped detection.
His work is now so well known to the Council that there is no
occas ion for me to dwell on it further. His report for the year is as
follows:—
Public Health Department,
Town Hall, Islington, N.
IIth February, 1914.
To A. E. Harris, Esq.,
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, 1913.
The purchase of samples under the Regulations as to Preservatives in Milk
and Cream, made under the Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Bill, have
during the past year made a very considerable addition to my already heavy
duties, and although I have succeeded in keeping the testing work at nearly the
same level as for 1912, this has only been accomplished by executing a greater
portion of the work at the expense of my private time. As in previous years, a
very considerable percentage of the Defendants to the summonses issued as a
result of this work are habitual offenders. In one such case I found it expedient
to employ two agents, who between them paid fourteen visits to the premises,
before we ventured to purchase an official sample.
That such precautions were necessary I may mention that one of the agents
was suspected, and after receiving Margarine twice, was served with Butter during
his remaining visits. Of the fourteen samples thus purchased, six were genuine
and eight adulterated. Ultimately the Defendant in this case was fined 40s., and
this after two previous convictions, a sequel which explains the existence of the
habitual offender.
That the public is defrauded in such instances is only one side of the question;
there is another, and a most important one, and that is the effect it has on the
honest tradesman.
During the past few years I have received a number of complaints from
tradesmen, the complaint usually being to the effect that the complainant while
trying to carry on a legitimate business is seriously handicapped by another