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41
REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE PUBLIC
ANALYST FOR 1967
The analysis of samples of food and drugs purchased formally
and informally under the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, is carried
out by the Public Analyst, D. G. Forbes, Esq., B.Sc., F.R.I.C.
For some years it has been the practice, and Committee authority
has been given, for the submission to the Analyst of 1,000 samples
of food and drugs per year. Of the 1,000 samples, 150 were milk
and the remaining 850 were foods and drugs, the majority being of
various food commodities. Practically all the milk sold now is produced
by the large milk combines which are efficiently run and
up-to-date concerns whose products are maintained at a high
nutritional level. Despite improvement in methods of food
production and manufacture and the lessening tendency for any
adulteration to occur, I am firmly of the opinion that samples of
milk and, indeed, of all foods, is necessary, but I consider that the
number of milks could be reduced from 150 to 100 and the number
of other foods sampled raised from 850 to 900 per year. My proposals
to this effect were discussed by the Health Committee in the
latter part of the year, and approval given by the Committee to
the suggested variation in sampling. It was decided to operate
the new arrangement as from 1968.
Of the 1,000 samples submitted to the Public Analyst during the
year under review, 65 were taken with the formalities required by
the Act and 935 taken informally. The number of food samples
was 920 and the remaining 80 were drugs.
The samples submitted for analysis included the following
substances : —
Beer, Wines and Spirits 3
Beverages (cocoa, coffee, tea, etc.) 24
Cereal preparations 38
Cheese products 23
Confectionery 85
Cream 49
Fats (butter, margarine, etc.) 60
Fish (canned, etc.) 20
Fruit (canned and dried) 41
Ice-cream 21
Meat products (including sausages) 105
Milk 150
Milk products 16
Pickles and condiments (including spices) 100
Preserves 50
Soft drinks 58
Soups 9
Vegetables 68
Drugs 80