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15
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ANALYST.
During the year 2,100 samples were submitted, six being formal
and 2,094 informal. All the formal samples were milk. The samples
submitted for analysis consisted of 936 milk, 1,049 other foodstuffs
and 115 drugs. Three of the samples of milk were found to be adulterated.
The average composition of the milk analysed during the
year was: Total milk solids, 12.41, milk fat 3.58, non-fatty solids,
8.83.
Seven samples of other foodstuffs were found to be adulterated,
viz.: Sausage, a misdescribed vegetable product; Oatmeal, coarsely
broken oats; Cake Flour and Pea Flour, infested with mites; Curry
Powder, contained lead in 60 parts per million; Biscuits, fat, 13 per
cent., with acid value 20.0; Sugar, 13.7 per cent. Epsom Salts.
Samples of the following substances were analysed: Butter,
101 samples; cake, 12; cereals, 31; cheese, 100; cocoa, 9; coffee, 7;
essences, 35; fish, canned or in paste form, 31; flour, 3; food
powder, 30; ginger, 8; jam, 21; lard, 92; margarine, 101; meat
products, 23; mustard, 7; pepper, 1; pickles and sauces, 9; salt, 1;
soup, canned, 13; spice, 18; sugar, 101; tea, 100; vegetables, canned,
26; and vinegar 1.
The average water content of the 101 samples of butter was
14.9 per cent.; that of the 101 samples of margarine, 15.3 per cent.
Seven of the samples were submitted for analysis on the complaints
of ratepayers, viz.: Household Milk, Salad Cream, Bun Flour,
Cakes and Sardines. All these samples were genuine, and the complaints
not justified. A sample of Sausage was found to contain no
meat, and Oatmeal was found to consist of broken oats.
In conclusion we have to report that the adulteration detected
during 1946 was 16.7 per cent. of the formal samples, 0.43 per cent.
of the informal samples, and 0.47 per cent. of all samples submitted.
We have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servants,
A. H. M. MUTER, F.R.I.C., F.C.S.,
Public Analyst.
J. E. WOODHEAD, B.Sc., F.R.I.C., Ph.C.,
Deputy Public Analyst.
325 Kennington Road,
S.E.11.