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Consecutive Sampling.—Pending the repeal of the Warranty Sections of the
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, the Food Inspectors when sampling always
inquire whether a warranty in any form is held by the vendor, and, if there
be a warranty, and the sample prove to be adulterated, take a sample of the
milk of the guarantor upon delivery at the vendor's premises. Unfortunately
the second sample is not a sample of the inculpated milk, but it may in some
measure be evidence of the bona or male fides of the guarantor.
WARRANTIES.
It is generally admitted that a considerable proportion of the dairy farmers
of this country produce milk which is often found wanting in cleanliness and
freedom from tuberculous and other objectionable organisms, and from excess
of acidity, but which also is rarely found wanting in a proper proportion of
fats and solids other than fats ; in other words, the dairy farmer is rarely
fraudulent, though he may be often regarded as ignorant or even negligent.
On the other hand, the milk distributed in London is often found wanting in
a proper proportion of fats and of solids other than fats, and in the prosecutions
that follow the discovery of these adulterations it has become the custom
for milk-dealers to plead warranties.
This is the procedure: the defendant milk-dealer swears that he sold the
milk as he received it, and brings all his staff to confirm this on oath, and