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kindly suggested that Cypriot food traders in St. Marylebone might be invited to the meeting. This
suggestion was gladly adopted. A total attendance of over 75 was secured, and full opportunity
was taken by these traders to hear and discuss, in their own language, information on a subject which
closely affects them in the conduct of their businesses. It is understood that the St. Pancras Health
Department hopes to be able to arrange further similar lectures.
During the year special attention was given to retail shops in which food is manufactured, prepared,
stored or sold in order that a higher hygienic standard in the handling and, so far as existing powers
allow, in the wrapping of all foodstuffs, more especially fish and meat, may be secured.
Food Analysis.—The scope of sampling under the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, was considerably widened
in 1949 to include a large variety of new products coming on the market, and no fewer than 197
different kinds of foodstuffs and drugs were submitted for analysis. The 700 samples (63 formal,
637 informal) taken during the year included: milk 75, butter 38, margarine 37, cooking fat 31,
cheese 21, ice cream 37, confectionery 34. The sum paid in respect of each analysis was £1 1s. Od. The
43 samples reported as adulterated or otherwise irregular are referred to by the Public Analyst
(Mr. Thomas McLachlan) in the following report: "The percentage of adulterated samples is higher
this year than it was last year in St. Marylebone, 6.1 per cent, of the samples submitted being reported
as adulterated. Milk in London is not usually adulterated, but this year one formal sample contained
14 per cent. of added water, and another formal sample contained 1 per cent. of added water; one
informal sample contained 3 per cent. of added water, and another informal sample 1 per cent. of
added water, the added water being calculated in each case according to the Sale of Milk Regulations,
1939. A sample of tomato sauce was found to contain 100 parts per million of benzoic acid, but was
labelled to the effect that it contained less than 409 parts per million of benzoic acid. The latter
amount would have been in excess of the permitted maximum quantity of 250 parts per million. A
sample of tomato puree and one of tomato cocktail contravened the Labelling of Food Regulations
as no retail price was shown and the contents were not given in fluid ounces. A sample of tomato
paste contained 3.25 grains of tin per pound of puree. Your analyst received as complaint samples
a Neapolitan slice contaminated with animal faecal matter, the hairs in which appeared to be from a
cat, and a currant bun which contained a mass of smashed and dirty currants indicating that the
currants had not been properly washed before use: had they been washed the currants would have
separated. A roll and cheese were reported as inferior on account of dirt in the rind of the cheese.
A stale jam sponge roll was received which, though still wholesome, was not of the quality a customer
is entitled to expect, and a sample of cake flour mixture was also very stale and contained rancid fat.
These were both purchased from a dirty shop. Some lemon curd also sent as a complaint sample
contained pieces of paper and other matter, probably due to the jar not being properly cleaned before
filling or to the contents of a broken jar being filled into the jar submitted. A packet of junket powder
was found to be 75 per cent. deficient in rennet. A bottle of concentrated green ginger wine flavouring
was submitted which gave directions on the label for sweetening with saccharin. This contravened
the Soft Drinks Order and the question was taken up with the Ministry of Food. A sample labelled
" rum flavoured coffee and chicory essence—rum non-excisable " was received. This label contravened
the Labelling of Food Order and the attention of the Ministry of Food was drawn to the matter. A
sample of apple puree was labelled "artificially sweetened." It was insufficiently sweetened and such
sweetening as may have been added was not sugar, so that the label was misleading. A sample of
blackcarrant syrup was received containing 450 parts per million of sulphur dioxide instead of 250
parts per million, the maximum amount permissible. Two samples of white pepper contained excessive
quantities of lead, namely 100 and 150 parts per million. A sample sold as salad oil contained only
17 per cent. of oil with 83 per cent. of water. Chewing plugs consisted of paraffin wax, slightly coloured
and flavoured. A sample of toffees made with malt extract was repotted as inferior, but the Ministry
of Food considered that no action could be taken unless the sweets were bad enough to be declared
unfit for human consumption. A sample of very rancid malted soya cream which was unfit for
human consumption had been purchased from a dirty shop. A sample of clotted spread was received
incorrectly labelled, the ingredients not being placed together on the label in the order of quantity
in which they were present, and the presence of added salt was not declared. A sample of salad cream
was fermenting vigorously when received, due to a deficiency in salt and acetic acid. A sample of
horseradish relish was received and found to be improperly labelled. The description on the label
"synthetic cream" without any disclosure of ingredients contained in the synthetic cream contravened
the Labelling of Food Order. A sample labelled as almond cream should have been
described as almond butter. Almond cream is a name well known for hair preparations, whereas
almond butter is the name given to pastes prepared from whole ground almonds used for food. The
lid of the jar containing this sample was labelled "peanut butter," which was misleading, and your
analyst suggested this matter should be taken up with the manufacturers. A tin of sardines which
were a very old pack had a flavour of oxidised oil and contained 1 grain per lb. of tin. It was
suggested they could be used for manufacturing purposes but should not be sold direct to the public.