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53
(d) Vinegar.
Several samples of vinegar were examined and analysed
during 1912, and found to be deficient in acetic acid. There
is at present no legal standard for acetic acid in vinegar,
nor has the Local Government Board any power to frame
definitions for vinegar or artificial vinegar. The Board has,
however, suggested the following definition:—
"Vinegar is a liquid derived wholly from alcoholic
and acetous fermentations; it shall contain not less than
4 grammes of acetic acid (CH3 COOH) in 100 cubic
centimetres of vinegar; it shall not contain arsenic in
amounts exceeding 0.0143 milligrammes per 100 cubic
centimetres of vinegar, nor any sulphuric or other
mineral acid, lead or copper, nor shall it contain any
foreign substances or colouring matters except
caramel."
Such a definition will, in all probability, to some extent
at least, be considered authoritative by the Courts.
It was decided by the Council that having regard to the
above facts, no action should be taken against vendors in
connection with the particular samples taken, but that
vinegar vendors within the Borough should be circularised,
drawing attention to the definition suggested by the Board,
and warning them that, in future, if samples were found
on analysis not to conform with such definition, legal proproceedings
might be taken against them under the Sale
of Food and Drugs Acts.
The matter of a statutory standard for vinegar and artificial
vinegar is being taken up by the London & County
Vinegar Brewers' Association, Limited, of Ridler Place,
Holland Street, Blackfriars, S.E. (Walter Davenport,
Secretary), and it is hoped to obtain from the Government a
short Act of Parliament dealing with the matter.