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38
Purveying milk in the Borough without being registered. Defendant was convicted for
adulteration, but the summons in
respect of his failure to register as
a purveyor in St. Marylebone was
dismissed. Notice of appeal was
given and the case for hearing in
the High Courts is pending.
Examination of Milk.—Apart from a small number taken for bacteriological
examination, all samples for analysis are taken under the Sale of Food
and Drugs Acts, but as this portion of the report deals with milk, it is
considered convenient to refer to the subject of milk examination here. The
sampling during the year was carried out by the Meat and Food Inspector, who
took a number fixed by the Medical Officer of Health each week and submitted
them to the Public Analyst. Most of the samples were taken during the day,
but several were also obtained in the evening or early morning and on
Saturday night and Sunday morning. A certain number of samples were also
taken at railway stations once a month.
The total number of milks examined was 403. Of these, 23 (5 7 per cent.)
were found to be adulterated. In the case of samples reported on as genuine by
the Public Analyst, a note was sent to the vendor informing him that 110 further
action would be taken in connection with the sample. So far as the adulterated
samples are concerned, proceedings in all cases were instituted, unless the
adulteration was trivial or other circumstances existed which rendered such a
course inadvisable.
The actual number of cases prosecuted was 15, and the number of convictions
14. In the latter, fines and costs to the amount of £30. 2s. 6d. were recoveredIn
one case, the defendant absconded before the summons was served.
In the case of the railway station samples, it is customary to send one-third
of the sample to the consignor and to communicate with him when the analysis
is completed. Of the 38 such samples taken during the year, none were found
to be adulterated.