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69
SALE OF FOOD AND DRUGS ACTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(MILK AND CREAM) REGULATIONS.
The number of samples examined by the Public Analyst was 1,023 which total
may be divided as follows:—
Formal. Informal. Total.
Taken under Food and Drugs Acts 815 183 998
„ „ Milk and Cream Regulations 6 19 25
Total 821 202 1,023
Of the above the samples taken under the Milk and Cream Regulations are
separately mentioned on page 70.
Of the samples purchased under the Food and Drugs Acts, 37 were found
adulterated, which equals a percentage of 4.6. The adulterated articles were Milk,
24 out of 322 or a percentage of 7.5 ; Butter 5 out of 359, a percentage of 1.5 ; Coffee
1 in 19 ; Whiskey 2 in 7 ; Gin 2 in 7 ; Rum 1 in 6 ; and Drugs 2 in 22. All other
samples purchased formally were free from adulteration ; the full list is given on
pages 76 and 77.
As regards informal samples 35 out of 183 were found to be adulterated. No
deductions of importance can be drawn from the adulterations noted in this group.
In several instances duplicate samples, which were expected to be adulterated, were
purchased for special reasons, e.g. preserved shrimps, 19 out of 20 samples of which
were reported as containing preservatives. In the case of Milk 6 out of 44 informal
samples were adulterated or a percentage of 13.6 compared with a percentage of 7.5
taken formally. When Milk is suspected of being continuously adulterated two or
more samples are sometimes taken before a formal purchase is made.
The comparative figures for recent years as regards milk adulteration are shown
in the following table:—

From the above table it will be recognised that during the last two years the
percentage of adulterated milk shows a marked increase ; some part of this is undoubtedly
real, but a proportion must be attributed to greater judgment displayed in sampling.