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175
The circumstances seem to indicate that the boric acid present
in the cream was responsible for the occurrence of these symptoms
in two exceptionally susceptible individuals, who possibly may have
consumed a further amount of boric acid during the day in other
articles of food.
The Butter samples throughout the year were found to be satisfactory.
I have not succeeded, in the limited number of samples
with which I have had to deal, in discovering anything to take exception
to. Since the use of coconut oil has extended in connection
with the adulteration of butter, a careful test for this material has
been made, but always with negative results. In addition to the
employment of this oil in the making of Margarine it has been retailed
as a substitute for lard.
It has been observed by many analysts that the average proportion
of water in butter has increased during recent years. Formerly
the amount seldom exceeded 12 per cent., but of the samples which
are purchased nowadays a good proportion of them contain water
amounting to 14 or 15 per cent.
In October of last year the following resolutions were forwarded
to the Local Government Board and to the Board of Agriculture and
Fisheries:—
The Council of the Metropolitan Borough of Stoke Newington
urges the necessity for immediate action to be taken in the direction
of introducing legislation for the purpose (a) of amending and consolidating
the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts; (b) of laying down, for
the guidance of Local Authorities, definite standards or limits in
respect to the composition of the principal classes of foods in common
use and the addition of antiseptic and harmful colouring agents
to food; (c) of establishing a Court of Reference, as mentioned in the
recommendations of the Departmental Committee of 1901; and (d)
of adequately dealing with the defects surrounding the matter of
Warranties or Disclosures, as protecting the vendor of an adulterated
article of food.