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15
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ANALYST.
During the year 2,016 samples were submitted, all being
informal. The samples submitted for analysis consisted of 794 milk,
1,076 other foodstuffs and 146 drugs. One sample of milk was
found to be adulterated. The average composition of the milk
analysed during the year was : Total milk solids, 12.37, milk fat 3.60,
non-fatty solids 8.77.
Nine samples of other foodstuffs were found to be adulterated,
viz. : chocolate cup, infested with mites; salami sausage, decomposed;
flour, contained sodium bicarbonate; flour, self-raising, excess
of sodium bicarbonate; non-brewed vinegar, 37 per cent.
deficient in acetic acid; canned tomato soup, bitter flavour due to the
use of unsound fruit; malt vinegar, 7½ per cent. deficient in acetic
acid; semolina, infested with mites; tincture of iodine, contained
Friar's Balsam.
Samples of the following substances were analysed: bread,
four samples; butter, 102; cheese, 103; cocoa, 17; coffee, 11;
confectionery, 3; flour, 7; jam and marmalade, 23; lard and cooking
fat, 101; margarine, 104; meat, canned, 9; meat products, 5;
milk, canned, 11; sugar, 103; tea, 103; vinegar, 11.
The average water content of the 102 samples of butter was
14.95 per cent.; that of the 104 samples of margarine, 14.75 per cent.
The average boric acid content of the samples of margarine was
0.19 per cent.
Nine of the samples were submitted for analysis on the complaints
of ratepayers, viz. : anchovy paste, lemonade powder, sherbet
powder, malt bar, chocolate. All of these samples were genuine and
the complaints not justified.
In conclusion we have to report that the adulteration detected
during 1947 was 0.5 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.ll.