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27
Milk.—233 samples were examined during the year, and of these only two
were adulterated. This is equivalent to 0.86%, and is the lowest percentage
which has been recorded, so far, in the Borough. It is a result that may be
received with the greatest satisfaction seeing what an important article of diet
milk is for young and old alike. Nor is this satisfaction diminished when we
observe that the average composition of the milks taken was as follows :
Year Sp. Gr. Total Solids Fat Solids not Fat
1926 1031.6 12.60 3.67 8.93
1925 1031.3 12.27 3.58 8.69
Shewing a small but all round improvement in both Fat and Solids not Fat.
Butter.—A second year has passed without any sample being adulterated.
As in the case of milk, this absence of adulteration in such a universal article of
diet is most satisfactory.
Margarine.—No sample was adulterated, or exceeded in any instance the
standards laid down.
Cream.—What constitutes a " cream " has yet to be decided, so at present
a most unsatisfactory state of affairs is developing rapidly. More and more
samples of tinned cream are being put upon the market, and all of such samples
which have been examined during 1926 have contained such a low percentage of
fat as to justify their being termed enriched milks rather than cream. A definite
standard should be fixed, and any thing sold as cream, either loose or in tins,
should conform to standard. Devonshire Cream contains about 65% of fat, and
it should not be impossible for the Public to be sure of obtaining an article
containing at least 55% of milk fat. The creams examined during 1926 shewed
the following composition :
Ordinary Cream, 54.7 per cent, of fat (average)
Tinned Cream, 28.87 per cent, of fat (average)
i.e., Tinned Cream contains only about half the amount of fat of ordinary cream.
Apples.—As all the samples examined were found to be free from arsenic, it
is probable that any risk of arsenical poisoning from this source has been reduced
to a minimum. At no time was the danger in any way proportionate to the excitement
prevailing at the time, nevertheless it is reassuring to realize that the apple's
reputation of being able to keep the doctor away has not been either permanently
or seriously undermined.
Nut Milk Chocolate.—One sample was examined. This, owing to deterioration
and to the development of rancidity, was certified as being unfit for consumption.
Raisin Wine, Orange Wine, Ginger Wine.—One sample of each was
examined, and each contained sulphur dioxide as preservative; the amounts
ranged from 0.5 to 2 grains per pint.
Whiskey.—Out of 5 samples taken 3 were found to be slightly below the legal
standard.
Tinned Goods.—All these were examined for the presence of metals, but
nothing in excess of the usual amounts was found.
Iced Cake.—Two Iced Cakes were suspected of causing illness to the persons
who had partaken of them. These cakes were examined very carefully for the
presence of metals or of other harmful ingredients. The only undesirable substance
found to be present was boric acid. This substance was present not only
in each cake but also in the icing on each cake.
It is unusual for any person to eat say a pound of butter at one meal, but by
no means exceptional for a pound of cake to be consumed. By this means quite
a considerable amount of boric acid may be ingested at one time and so this
substance may under those conditions have contributed to the trouble complained
of.