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Legal proceedings were not taken in any of these cases, as under the existing
law it is unlikely that conviction would have been obtained. In a number, e.g.,
bloater paste, meat paste, and pies, sausages,- etc., the amount of preservative
found was comparatively small, and in a number of other samples the presence
of the preservative was disclosed on the bottle or package. In ten cases where no
disclosure was made and the amount of the preservative justified the action,
communications were sent to vendors, wholesale dealers and manufacturers
suggesting the desirability of the use of the preservative being discontinued, or
its presence disclosed to the purchaser. In one case of fruit cordial, the
manufacturers replied that they were experimenting with the preservative
recommended by the Departmental Committee. In a sample of preserved meat
paste the makers replied that the Committee's recommendations are not "law,"
and in the case of a preserved wine the makers stated they were not aware that
the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts specified that the presence of a preservative
should be declared on the label.
The following observations refer to samples purchased and analysed during
the year:—
Bloater Paste.
The amount of boric acid present in this fish paste was too small to call for
proceedings.
Beans, Tinned.
A sample of tinned beans was found to contain colouring matter, namely
copper sulphate, but as the quantity was less than two grains per pound and its
presence was disclosed on the label, no proceedings were taken.
Cake.
A sample of pound cake was found to contain a small percentage of boric
acid. Communications were addressed to the vendor and the makers of the cake
expressing the hope that the use of this preservative in cake would be discontinued.
Fruit Cordials and Syrups.
Six out of fourteen samples of fruit cordials and syrups were found to be
preserved with salicylic acid. The amounts were small and no action was
considered necessary except in one case where a communication was addressed to
the manufacturers expressing the hope that the use of the preservative would be
discontinued or its presence disclosed on the label. The manufacturers replied
that they were experimenting with the preservative recommended by the
Departmental Committee.
German Sausages.
Two out of four samples of German sausage contained boric acid, but as the
amounts were less than in cases where convictions had been obtained no action
was taken