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47
The following facts are extracted from the last Annual Report of
the Local Government Board for 1899-1900:—
The total number of samples analysed in 1899 was 53,056—one
to every 547 of the population of 1891—or about 3,500 more than the
number taken in 1898.
It is interesting to note that in the large number of districts
where the proportion of samples taken did not reach three per
thousand of the population, the samples reported against averaged
10.1 per cent.; in those where the proportion taken was between
three and four per thousand, the adulterated samples were 8.7 per
cent.; while in the districts where samples were taken at the rate of
over four per thousand, the rate of adulteration fell to 7.5 per cent.
Of the 53,056 samples examined by the public analysts, 4,970
were reported against, and proceedings were instituted in respect of
3,110. Fines were imposed in 2,608 cases, amounting in the
aggregate to £6,257 19s. 7d., excluding costs in most instances.
Nearly one-third of the fines were 10s. or under, 184 being less
than 5s., including 77 at 1s., and 11 at 6d. each. It need hardly be
said that such fines are wholly inadequate to the purpose of checking
fraud.
Of the samples examined during the year the percentage of cases
in which adulteration was reported was as follows:—
Milk 10.5, spirits 12.9, drugs 17.8, butter 9.7, coffee 7.5, sugar
5.9, mustard 3.2, confectionary and jam, 2.7, pepper and flour 1.3
each, wine 1.1, beer 0.8, bread 0.5, tea 0.4, lard 0.3, and other articles
7.5. The proportion of adulterated samples to the whole of those
examined was 9.4 per cent. This slightly higher than last year, but
for five years in succession the percentage has been under 10.