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23
THE SALE OF FOOD AND DRUGS ACTS.
Six-hundred and thirty-one samples under the Sale of Food
and Drugs Acts have been analysed during the year. As usual
the greater proportion of the articles analysed consisted of dairy
produce.
The systematic sampling of milk vendors in the district has
been continued, special attention being given to those who have
either been convicted or arc suspected of manipulating their wares.
In 1905 it was found that of the samples of milk purchased
for analysis about 16% were adulterated, in 1906 the percentage
of adulteration comes out at 10.3%. So many circumstances
affect these figures that it would be unwise to draw the conclusion
that adulteration is decreasing. One thing is however certain, that
although a large proportion of the London milk is coloured with
a minute quantity of Methyl-orange, Boron and most other
preservatives are now rarely met with. These preservatives
have been conscientiously sought for in all samples of milk during
the summer and the last quarter of the year, with almost
negative result.
In the list of samples detailed in Table II. will be observed
96 samples of canned goods, these were derived from various
sources; the majority were, however, from the United States,
particularly samples of tinned meats from Chicago.
A special report as to the results of the investigation was
made to the Public Health Committee, and it may be stated
generally that the bulk of the samples submitted were perfectly
fit for food, had evidently been made in a cleanly manner, and
from healthy material; the use of Boron preservatives was
general and not confined to the canned goods from the States.
A few of the canned meats were distinctly unfit for food, and made
from dirty material—probably enough the sweepings of the
factory. To utilise all parts of the pig "save its squeal" may
be smart business practice, but it will not suit the English
market. The consequences of the close scrutiny which canned
goods have been submitted to must have seriously affected the
industry. Recently an attempt was made by the Inspectors
to buy other samples, but a common reply was that the vendors
had so little sale for such things that they had ceased to stock
tinned meats.
It is also to be noted that the new consignments of the same
firms which had formerly sent out inferior goods, are apparently
now free from Boron preservatives, and also free from the filth
found as already mentioned in a few of the samples. A preservative
not common in English sauces is Benzoic Acid: this was
found in certain samples of American ketchup. The vendor was
in possession of a warranty that the sauces were free from preservatives
and was therefore ignorant of the addition.