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"A report was made on a rissole mixture, which contained no meat, that it must be described as
a vegetarian product or as a cereal and vegetable rissole mixture.
"A member of the public complained of the smell and taste of some peach jam, and after examination
your analyst considered that the slight odour and taste were due to the action of the jam on the tinplate.
This odour and taste soon passed off after the jam was removed from the tin, so that it would
be satisfactory if taken from the container immediately on opening. It was, however, reported as
inferior.
"A sample was received labelled 'lime jam.' It contained no lime peel or pulp and should, therefore,
have been described as lime marmalade jelly. It was also found to be 2 per cent. deficient in soluble
solids.
"A sample of margarine was reported as inferior as it contained 16.37 per cent. of water, whereas
it must not be more than 16 per cent.
"Two samples of tea were submitted as complaints, but on examination nothing could be found
wrong with either of them.
"A sample submitted as vinegar had not been brewed and was, therefore, not vinegar. It contained
4.7 per cent. acetic acid.
"A sample of new potatoes was submitted and found to possess a taste of paraffin, although they
did not smell of paraffin. These potatoes had been imported from Corsica.
"A sample labelled as tapioca dessert was received, and contained only 15 per cent. tapioca and
30 per cent. farina; your analyst was of the opinion that this was incorrectly described seeing that
the amount of tapioca was only half that of the farina.
"Some juice from tinned plums was received on account of the presence of a fruit fly. After
examination your analyst was of the opinion that this fly had been cooked and was present before the
can was sealed.
"A sample of crystallised pineapple was submitted which had an unpleasant flavour, but this
flavour had been developed in the process of boiling out the pineapple to make it crystallise, and
the sample was reported as genuine.
"A tin of tomato juice was examined and the amount of tin present was found to be two-thirds
of a grain per pound or 110 parts per million. There is no statutory maximum amount of tin permitted
in canned foods and, although a Local Government Board Report suggested many years ago that the
quantity should not exceed 2 grains per pound, this amount is now considered to be much greater
than is necessary. The sample was, therefore, reported as inferior.
"A fish preparation received was stated to have been sent to the Mayor by an inmate of a local
institution for old people. It consisted of smashed pilchards and added sauce, and if served in this
condition it was considered unsatisfactory by your analyst, and was reported as inferior.
"Two cans labelled as containing hard herring roes were found to contain soft roes. The tin
present in the samples was 0.6 grains per pound due to the action of salt on the tinplate.
"A bottle of milk was received with the complaint that it was a dirty bottle, but the marks were
found to be due to iron contained in the glass and could not be removed even with concentrated acid.
Another bottle received on account of a complaint of dirt was found to have a large number of minute
specks of brown gritty material in the interior, which could not be removed by ordinary washing.
These specks were not very visible when the bottle was full of milk and might have passed inspection.
"A milk whipping compound was received in a carton, which was very dirty on the outside.
Examination of the contents showed them to be partially dried and their volume had decreased by
50 per cent. owing to evaporation.
"A sample of oatmeal was contaminated by the presence of seed tapioca, probably emptied into
it by mistake. A member of the public complained of a sample of porridge oats, but nothing could
be found wrong with this.
"Some mussels in butter were received with the complaint that they were full of sand, but the
grittiness was found to be due to minute pearls attached firmly to the flesh of the fish. No objection
could be taken to them from the health standpoint.
"A sample of cocoa was stated to have made a consumer sick, but examination failed to reveal the
presence of any deleterious substance.
"A sample submitted as paregoric, or compound tincture of camphor, was found to be Gee's linctus
or compound tincture of squill.
"Some ammoniated tincture of quinine was 27 per cent. deficient in ammonia,