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"which are usually afforded by genuine milk, in which the proportion of
"milk-fat and non-fatty solids very frequently exceeds the percentages
"specified above. It is therefore important that Local Authorities should
"keep steadily in view the possibility of the artificial reduction of the quality
"of natural milk to the official limits by the abstraction of cream, or the
"addition of separated milk, or of water, and arrangements should be made
"for the taking of samples and the submission of the same for analysis
"whenever the existence of malpractices of the kind is suspected. In this
"connection, it may be observed that the evidence given before the Milk
"Regulations Committee [Cd. 491] tended to show that the practice of
"fraudulently mixing separated milk with new milk has become increasingly
"prevalent, particularly in some of the larger towns.
"Although the quality of genuine milk offered for sale will usually be well
"above the official limits of milk-fat and non-fatty solids, there may
"occasionally, and especially in certain seasons of the year, be cases in which
"a sample of genuine milk may fall below those limits. To meet cases of this
"kind it is suggested that in the absence of any special circumstances
"indicating that the case is a fraudulent one, the Local Authority might, in
"the first instance, call the vendor's attention to the analyst's report, and ask
"him whether he desires to offer any explanation, and if the explanation is
"one they are able to accept, they might, in the exercise of their discretion,
"refrain from the institution of proceedings or withdraw any summons which,
"in order to prevent the failure of proceedings, by reason of the time-limit
"imposed by the Act, it may have been necessary to take out. But it may
"be desirable that further samples of milk should be taken in such cases, in
"order that a satisfactory conclusion as to the character of the milk supplied
"may be arrived at.
"CREAM.
"The Milk Regulations Committee reported that the evidence submitted
"to them went to show that it was a common practice to add gelatin to cream
"for the purpose of giving it a fictitious appearance of richness or thickness.
"Local Authorities are urged to take steps to ascertain whether this form of
"adulteration is practised within their districts, and if a public analyst
"reports the presence of gelatin or other similar substance in a sample of
''cream, the Local Authority concerned should consider whether the case is
"one in which proceedings might not with advantage be instituted under
"Section 6 of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1875.
"COLLECTION AND RETENTION OF SAMPLES.
"It is desirable that, so far as may be found practicable, there should be
"uniformity of procedure in collecting and retaining samples of milk
"procured under the provisions of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, and the