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49
MARGARINE ACT, 1887.—Three samples of Margarine were supplied in
unmarked or improperly marked wrappers. Cautions were issued in two instances
and there was one prosecution.
TABULATION OF WORK.—Tables setting out in detail the various purchases
in each quarter, and the results of analysis are appended to this section of
the report on pages 62 to 65.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
The percentage rate of adulteration of all foods sampled in the City is ll-2.
This might at first appear to indicate that adulteration in the City is more prevalent
than in other areas. Such assumption is incorrect for I believe that food sold
within the City area compares favourably with that in the rest of the country.
Haphazard selection of samples would probably result in a very low rate of adulteration
being recorded, due in great measure to the prevalence of multiple shops and
the method of trading under common control. In such businesses due regard is
paid to the requirements of the Food and Drugs Acts, and although occasionally
a lapse is discovered, supplies furnished from a common source result in the bulk
being subjected to careful supervision. Occasionally this supervision fails, more
from accident than intention, a notable illustration of which was recently made
public in another district in connection with the sale of a product used for the
preparation of a popular beverage. Even the small shops which are not associated
with any central organisation less frequently sell adulterated food to-day than
formerly, for the reason that a great amount of food is sold in the packet form.
These packets are supplied by wholesalers, where again there is central control.
An increased percentage of adulteration is due to some extent to the method of
sampling and recording results. It has been the practice in the past to purchase
a considerable number of informal samples and when any such is discovered to be
adulterated, another informal sample is taken to ascertain whether sophistication
was accidental or persistent, and if further adulteration is discovered a formal
sample is purchased so that proceedings may be instituted if necessary.
It follows therefore that in the majority of instances of adulteration, two and
sometimes three or even more samples of the same product from the same shop
have been taken and these being added to the aggregate of adulterated samples
there must obviously result an increase in the percentage rate of adulteration.
In addition, special attention is given to group sampling. Illustrations have
been before the Sanitary Committee in considerable numbers in recent months.
Take borax as an example. Samples of this commodity have been purchased with
a view of ascertaining the position borax occupies in everyday sales, and in this
connection purchases have been made which it was expected would be found to
be contaminated but in respect of which a purchase would hardly have been regarded
as one in which proceedings could be taken under the Food and Drugs Acts.
Again, when a commodity has been found unexpectedly to contain preservative,
all other examples of that commodity supplied by other traders have been purchased
for examination with the result that the practice has been found to be followed in
others. If only an odd sample, for example, of a sauce containing salicylic acid
had been purchased, the percentage rate of adulteration would not have been so
great as it is in consequence of the methods adopted.
I could state other reasons but the above are sufficient to indicate that the
method of purchase and enquiry in the City does tend to show a greater percentage
of sophistication than would be the case were mere routine purchases of foods made,
particularly of many which before purchase and before submission to analysis could
be unhestitatingly stated to be free from adulteration.
I hope in the very near future to present a special report dealing with the
necessity for a larger number of official standards being established in respect of
food products and the want of uniformity which exists throughout the country in
respect of decisions in connection with the addition of preservatives.
During the year group sampling has been carried out in respect of the following :
COFFEE EXTRACT.—With a view of ascertaining the preservative used
(Report No. 250).
CONDENSED MILK.—To compare the fat contents of the different products
now on the market with the object of ascertaining the necessity of standardising
such milks (Report No. 250).