View report page

136
Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Act, 1907.
By the Public Health (Milk and Cream) Regulations, 1912, made
in pursuance of this Act, a definite restriction has been placed on the
use of preservatives by producers, retailers and others concerned in the
milk and cream trade; no preservative is to be added to milk in any case,
and no preservative is to be added to cream which is sold as cream.
The regulations, however, do not prohibit the sale of cream containing
boric acid, borax, or a mixture of these preservative substances, or
hydrogen peroxide, provided:—
(1) That it is sold, not as cream, but as "preserved cream," and
(2) That the vessel in which it is sold bears a declaration, in the
prescribed form, showing the amount and nature of the
particular preservative added.
The addition to cream of any other preservative substances than
those mentioned is prohibited.
The object of the regulations in regard to cream is to secure that
preserved cream sold in compliance with the regulations shall be
distinguished at all stages of sale from cream to which no preservative
has been added; this distinction is important in the interests of the public
generally, and particularly in the interests of infants and invalids.
In order to secure completeness and uniformity in the statement
required to be included in the Annual Report of the Medical Officer of
Health, the Local Government Board suggest that the statement should
be drawn up under the headings shown below.
For administrative convenience the local authorities specified are
those which also administer the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, and the
provisions of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1875, relating to the
taking of samples, have been applied to samples taken for the purpose of
the regulations. But the action taken under the regulations is in
other respects independent of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts and
does not affect the action which may be taken under those Acts.
The attention of the milk-sellers in the Borough was called to the
provisions of these Regulations by a circular letter.