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278
1908]
since 1901; in Denmark, Sweden and Victoria since 1905. Sesame oil is
the earmark required in each country, except Hungary, where dimethylaminoazobenzene
is prescribed. In Belgium starch must also be used in addition to
the sesame oil, and not only must the margarine be earmarked in Denmark,
but it must not be coloured, as already mentioned. The Medical Officer of
Health is under the impression that it is also earmarked in France.
In several countries also margarine must be kept in vessels or sold in
boxes or vessels of a particular shape, as for instance, in Sweden, under the
law which came into force on May 1st, 1906, where persons who manufacture
or trade in margarine must keep it in vessels which are either quadrangular,
or of such an oval form that the length is at least half as much again as the
breadth. The vessels must also be branded with the words "Margarine" or
"Artificial Fats."
In several countries, too, the importation of margarine, whether earmarked
or not, is either forbidden or only permitted entry under severe regulations.
The addition of Margarine to butter is prohibited in Austria and Germany,
and it is restricted in Belgium, Denmark and France. This is also the case
in the United Kingdom where, as shown by the above facts (which, so far as
the European states are concerned, are mainly culled from publications of the
Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, and, so far as America is concerned, from
official publications of the United States Government) the consumers of butter
are least protected against the fraudulent sale of margarine.
The recommendation that margarine should be sold in its uncoloured state
was made so long ago as July, 1896, by the Select Committee of the House of
Commons who inquired into this question and reported as follows: "While
your Committee are reluctant to interfere with any edible commodity, they cannot,
in the interests of honest trading, arrive at any conclusion other than to
recommend the absolute prohibition of the artificial colouring of margarine to
resemble or imitate butter."
Unfortunately, this recommendation has not been adopted by any government
since then, and so the fraud of substituting margarine for butter has gone
on practically unchecked, and the practice is therefore as bad, or even worse,
to-day than it was in 1896, when the Select Committee made their recommendations.
Much more attention is, however, now paid to food products by the
Local Government Board, who have instituted a sub-department to deal with
them, and therefore, there is some hope that, at a not very distant date, steps
will be taken to ensure the legitimate sale of margarine. The Local Government
Board could hardly do better than adopt the above mentioned private
Bill, making such amendments in it as they think desirable, in the interests
of honest traders, if it should require any in this direction.