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had been committed against the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, and although
he thought fraud was intended, nothing had been done which would warrant
a charge of fraud or attempted fraud.
The full facts of the case were reported to the Local Government Board,
the Board of Agriculture, and the carman's employer, in March, 1906.
PRESERVATIVES AND COLOURING MATTERS IN FOOD.
Report of the Departmental Committee of the Local Government Board on the
use of Preservatives and Colouring Matters in Food.—1901.
Recommendations.
(a) That the use of formaldehyde or formalin, or preparations thereof, in
foods or drinks be absolutely prohibited, and that salicylic acid be not used in
a greater proportion than 1 gr. per pint in liquid food, and 1 gr. per pound in
solid food. Its presence in all cases to be declared.
(b) That the use of any preservative or colouring matter whatever in milk
offered for sale in the United Kingdom be constituted an offence under the
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.
(c) That the only preservative which it shall be lawful to use in cream be
boric acid or mixtures of boric acid and borax, and in amount not exceeding
0.25 per cent., expressed as boric acid. The amount of such preservative to be
notified by a label upon the vessel.
(d) That the only preservative permitted to be used in butter and margarine
be boric acid or mixtures of boric acid and borax, to be used in proportions
not exceeding 0.5 per cent., expressed as boric acid.
(e) That in the case of all dietetic preparations intended for the use of
invalids or infants chemical preservatives of all kinds be prohibited.
(f) That the use of copper salts in the so-called greening of preserved foods
be prohibited.
(g) That means be provided either by the establishment of a separate Court
of Reference or by the imposition of more direct obligation on the Local
Government Board to exercise supervision over the use of preservatives and
colouring matters in foods, and to prepare schedules of such as may be
considered inimical to the public health.