View report page

30
formalities of the Acts being observed; of these, 17, which comprised the following, were
found adulterated:—
3 of Sausage Preservative Powder, out of 9 samples taken.
3 of Malt Vinegar, out of 19 samples taken.
3 of Calomel Ointment, out of 10 samples taken.
2 of Liniment of Turpentine, out of 6 samples taken.
1 of Butter, out of 48 samples taken.
1 of Dried Machine Skimmed Milk, out of 2 samples taken.
1 of Margarine, out of 26 samples taken.
1 of Sausage Seasoning, out of 3 samples taken.
1 of Tinned Vegetables, out of 15 samples taken.
1 of Smelts, out of 1 sample taken.
Of the formal samples, 26 out of 279 were found to be adulterated, as follows:—
15 of Milk, out of 238 samples taken.
2 of Liniment of Turpentine, out of 2 samples taken.
2 of Malt Vinegar, out of 3 samples taken.
1 of Butter, out of 7 samples taken.
1 of Calomel Ointment, out of 1 sample taken.
1 of Preservative Powder for Sausages, out of 1 sample taken.
1 of Rum, out of 5 samples taken.
1 of Tinned Vegetables, out of 1 sample taken.
1 of Unfermented Grape Juice, out of 1 sample taken.
1 of Whisky, out of 8 samples taken.
The above-mentioned samples, in all cases except Milk, Rum, Whisky and Unfermented
Grape Juice, were taken as the result of informal samples having been certified as adulterated.
General Observations.—The percentage rate of adulteration of all foods and drugs
sampled in the City was 4 -2, the same rate as in 1926.
Butter.—Of the 55 samples of butter taken, 30 were of butter served with bread or scone.
Legal proceedings were successfully instituted in connection with one sample which was
certified to consist of Margarine.
Drugs.—Eight samples of drugs were found not to comply with the standards of the
British Pharmacopoeia. There were three prosecutions (informal samples having previously
been procured) and penalties imposed in each case. A caution was issued to the Vendor of
one sample, and in the remaining instance it was not deemed desirable to take further
action by reason of a declaration at the time of sale.
Seer.—None of the 10 samples of Beer was reported against.
Spirits.—Of the 24 samples of Spirits taken, two were found to be below the statutory
minimum strength of 35 degrees under proof, and the Vendors were cautioned as legal
proceedings were not warranted considering the circumstances.
Public Health (Preservatives, etc., in Food) Regulations, 1925 to 1927.—These Regulations,
with certain exceptions, became operative on the 1st January, 1927. Consequently the list
of articles of food purchased for analysis in the past has been considerably extended, and
samples of the articles mentioned in the First Schedule to the Principal Regulations, which
may contain one of two added preservatives, viz., Sulphur Dioxide or Benzoic Acid, in specified
amounts, have been procured.
Sausages.—Thirty-nine samples of Sausages and six samples of sausages labelled as
containing preservative were taken and all certified to be genuine. Eleven samples of
Preservative Powders and Liquids for sausages were taken. Powders purchased from two
Vendors were found to contain Boric Acid, and one of these was the subject of successful
legal proceedings. The attention of the Vendor was called to the matter in the other
case, and the stock was withdrawn from sale.
The declaration on the labels of receptacles containing sausage preservative powder or
liquid in most cases were not found to conform to the requirements of the Regulations in
various respects, but on the attention of the Makers or Vendors being drawn to the defects,
the necessary amendments were made.