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1914]
258
Butter—The salutary effect of a number of successful prosecutions
during the last quarter of 1914 against persons selling margarine as butter,
coupled with the fact that several of the worst offenders have transferred their
efforts to new pastures, has had a marked effect in reducing the rate of
adulteration of this commodity.
During the year 188 samples of butter were tested, 163 being genuine and
25, or 13.3 per cent., adulterated, a percentage which is less than half that
for 1913.
Margarine.—Of the 227 samples examined, 206 were found to be sold in
conformity with the Acts, while 21, or 9.2 per cent., were delivered to the
purchaser in an unstamped wrapper, and were accordingly classed as
adulterated.
Coffee.–145 samples of coffee were tested, 103 of which were genuine, 34
were sold either with a verbal declaration or enclosed in a package bearing an
inscription to the effect that the contents were sold as a mixture of coffee and
chicory, or chicory and coffee, and 8, or 5.5 per cent., were adulterated.
Olive Oil.—Of the 7 samples of olive oil tested, 4, or 57 per cent., were
found to be adulterated, It is a significant fact as showing that while some
shopkeepers are ready to take advantage of a purchaser of a small quantity
of an article, they will not take the risk where the quantity is greater, i.e., the
agent when purchasing the test samples was instructed to buy pennyworths,
this quantity being sufficient for my purpose. With the official sample, however,
the case is different, as the article has to be divided into three parts. As
stated above, four of the test samples were found to be adulterated, but when
the agent returned to purchase an official sample, and necessarily a larger
quantity, three of the vendors stated that they did not sell olive oil, but
nut oil.
For purposes of comparison I insert the following Table, showing the
results of the test work since its conception in 1908:—