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Police Court on the 20th November, 1908. The contention of the prosecution
was that an offence had been committed inasmuch as no intimation was given
to the purchaser of the presence of preservative, although in the majority of
cases the percentage of preservative was below the amount mentioned in the
Report of the Departmental Committee of the Local Government Board on
the use of preservatives. The magistrate (Mr. Plowden) agreed with the
contention of the Council, and decided that an offence had been committed,
but inasmuch as it was undertaken by the Solicitors representing the Defendants,
that in future notice should be given to the purchaser by a label, if
cream with a preservative were sold, the Magistrate ordered each Defendant
to pay £1 1s. costs.
Arising out of these proceedings your Council considered the advisability of
protecting both the public and the trade by making known the intention of
this Authority to take proceedings against vendors of cream in this Borough
when it contains boric acid as a preservative without the fact being notified
to the purchaser by a label on the vessel, as recommended in the Report of
the Departmental Committee of the Local Government Board on the Use of
Preservatives.
It is considered in the trade to be a matter of practical necessity for
preservatives to be placed in cream during the summer, but, recognising the
injurious effect of boric acid on infants and invalids, and the necessity for
distinguishing between fresh and preserved cream, it was resolved that a
communication should be sent to all the cream sellers whose premises are in
St. Pancras, advising them that proceedings will be taken in future against
anyone selling preserved cream in the Borough undeclared by label upon the
vessel.
Your Council ordered the following printed notice to be sent to all vendors
of cream whose premises are in the Borough:—
Metropolitan Borough of St. Pancras.
To Vendors of Preserved Cream and all others whom it may concern.
Notice is hereby given, that the Borough Council recognising the injurious
effect of boric acid and other derivatives of borax, especially on infants and
invalids, and the necessity for distinguishing between fresh and preserved
cream, have decided to institute legal procedings in future against any person
or persons selling in St. Pancras cream containing boric acid or any other
derivatives of borax, without the fact being notified to the purchaser or
purchasers of such cream by a label printed in bold and legible type, affixed
to the vessel containing it, as recommended in the Report of the Departmental
Committee of the Local Government Board on the Use of Preservatives.
By order of the Council,
C. H. F. Barrett,
Town Clerk.
Boric Acid.—The following extract from the 55th number of the Statistical
Abstract for the United Kingdom, 1893 to 1907, pages 110 and 111, Table 39.
Imports. Quantities of the principal articles imported into the United
Kingdom, shows the importation of boron compounds in recent years:—