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was rancid. It was unfit for consumption in the ordinary way but could have been used for cooking
purposes. Another sample of butter had a definite tang, probably picked up during storage in the
refrigerator. It was suggested that the refrigerator should be overhauled.
"A sample of cheese was examined and found to be 27 per cent. deficient in fat. A sample of
Camembert cheese received as a complaint sample was considered to be over-ripe, but was still edible
and was, therefore, reported as inferior.
"An opened bag of self-raising flour was received with the complaint that it contained dirt. It
was found to contain mouse dirt and similar matter, but it was impossible to express an opinion
as to how the sample had become contaminated. As there was no sign of entry through the paper,
the mouse might have gained access in the larder of the complainant.
"A sample of bread was received contaminated with gear oil, probably from overhead shafting.
"Some ginger cake received with a complaint that it possessed a soapy flavour had been prepared
with rancid fat and was, therefore, unsuitable for food.
"Pieces of foreign fruit related to the cucumber species were found in a hot cross bun. The fruit
was carefully sliced so that the manufacturers must have known of its presence, and the sample
was reported as inferior.
"Some packets of milk chocolate contaminated with traces of gilt from the wrappers were received,
but the chocolate was considered safe for eating as the copper amounted only to 5 parts per million.
A further sample of chocolates was received with the complaint that they had caused sickness when
eaten, but this complaint could not be confirmed and the sample was reported as genuine.
"A purchaser had complained of dirt in a table jelly tablet, and when examined this was found to
contain fragments of porcelain and other dirt, and had probably been manufactured in a dirty mould.
"A sample of currant sugar sweet spread contained invert sugar and was reported adulterated
as currant sugar must consist of dextrose obtained from grapes.
"Some drinking straws were submitted because of a complaint that their colouring contaminated
liquids drunk through them, but when examined the colours were found to be harmless and only
slowly extracted from the straws.
"Your analyst received a sample of cooked meat and gravy which was found to be decomposing
badly. Decomposition was due to the fact that the meat and water, in which it had been heated,
had never been raised to a sufficiently high temperature, and attention was drawn to the fact that
partially cooked food and cooked food which may be contaminated during cooling are the commonest
causes of food poisoning. Another sample of meat was received with the complaint that it had made
two people sick. The meat was found to be a normal sample of genuine beef and your analyst ate
some without any ill effects. A meat pie was received containing a piece of hide with hairs, the meat
not having been properly cleansed. The matter was taken up with the manufacturers. A can of
potted meat contained excessive quantities of tin due to the corrosion of the tinned metal surface.
"Complaint was made that a sample of crawfish appeared to contain glass, but this was found to
be crystals of magnesium ammonium phosphate. Some tinned oysters were found to be extremely
soft and of an unusual colour. This condition was probably due to the pressure required to sterilise
the fish breaking down the structure, and the sample was reported as genuine.
"A sample of salad cream examined was found to contain gram-positive cocci and the emulsion
had broken down and caused the oil to separate. It was suggested that the whole stock should be
returned to the manufacturers or condemned.
"Boracic ointment was found to contain 840 per cent. excess of boric acid. Some mercury ointment
failed to comply with the requirements of the British Pharmacopoeia as it contained only 6 per cent.
of mercury instead of 9.5-10.5 per cent.
"A sample of tincture of quinine contained an excess of both ammonia and quinine. The label
of a sample of Friar's balsam tablets was considered to be misleading, as the amount of menthol
was greater than the active constituents of the Friar's balsam and the amount recommended as
a dose was too small to be significant. The matter was taken up with the manufacturers.
"So-called fruit laxative tablets owed their laxative properties to phenolphtalein and not to fruit.
The manufacturers were warned of our objection. A sample of liquid paraffin failed to comply with
the test for readily carbonisable substances as required by the British Pharmacopoeia.
"A sample of sweet spirits of nitre was deficient in ethyl nitrite, but this deficiency was probably
due to the rapid deterioration which occurs when a bottle of this medicament has been opened.
"The label of some vitamin tablets contravened the Labelling of Food Order, as the quantity of
vitamin B2, equal to 2.5 grains of fresh brewer's yeast, would not constitute one-sixth of the vitamin
B2 requirements for the day.