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100
These Rules relate to milk only, and it will be observed that they in no
way alter the standard that had been previously adopted by your Public
Analyst, but obviously gives such standard a legal value.
The Departmental Committee appointed by the Board of Agriculture in
July, 1899, to inquire into the use of preservatives and colouring matters in
the preservation and colouring of food, and to report:—
(1) Whether the use of such materials, or any of them, for the preservation
and colouring of food in certain quantities is injurious to health,
and if so, in what proportion does their use become injurious;
(2) To what extent, and in what amounts, are they so used at the
present time;
having held fifteen sittings, and taken a vast amount of evidence, reported at
great length on 16th January, 1901.
The following are the recommendations of the Committee:—
" RECOMMENDATIONS.
"136. Based upon the foregoing conclusions, we beg to make the following
"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 tor 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.
"(Signed) HERBERT MAXWELL, Chairman.
"T. E. THORPE.
" H. TIMBRELL BULSTRODE.
" F. W. TUNNICLIFFE.
" Chas. J. Huddart, Secretary."