View report page

21
The Food Standards (Preserves) Order is interesting in that it requires fruit curds to contain
either oil of orange or oil of lemon so that, legally, it is impossible to make fruit curds in which
these oils are incompatible. Two samples of fruit curd fell within this category, but two others
were very different in that they showed an illustration of a freshly-cut pineapple on their labels
and contained only artificial flavour, there being no genuine oil of pineapple or juice of pineapple
present.
A sample of sauerkraut was alleged to have caused food poisoning. It was examined for
poisonous metals, but no detectable quantities of these were found. In your analyst's opinion
the flavour was not satisfactory, due either to the fermentation not having been quite right
initially or to the effects of sterilising a fermented product. The product was harmless but the
abnormal flavour might have caused some psychological reaction to the complainants.
A member of the public complained that a paprika had caused violent choking. Examination
showed that the white pithy pulp at the base of the stalk had a strong flavour and the typical
pungent taste associated with Nepal or strong Cayenne pepper. Paprikas, Cayennes, Nepal
peppers and Pimientoes all belong to the same family and a throw back of this type is merely
something which is beyond man's control. The flavour was not due to spraying with a dangerous
chemical as the complainant had suspected.
A sample of pork sausages was found to contain only 57 per cent, of meat. Your analyst
is of the opinion that pork sausages must contain not less than 65 per cent, of meat and this
sample was therefore 12 per cent, deficient.
Two samples of salami were submitted for examination, but neither of them was entirely
satisfactory. One sample contained 49 per cent, of water and only 2.7 per cent, of salt, whilst
the other contained 35.6 per cent, of water and 2.8 per cent, of salt. Salami is a type of uncooked
sausage, made essentially of meat or fish with added seasoning and smoked. It is then hung
in the factory to dry and should only be sold when in a satisfactory condition. If too much water
and too little salt are present there is a risk that any pathogenic organisms may multiply and
flourish. Although it is recognised that cuts and abrasions on the hands of workers making these
products should be covered with a completely sealed antiseptic dressing, one knows that ideal
conditions do not always operate in every factory all over the world.
The fat in a sample of parsley and thyme stuffing was extremely rancid, rendering the product
unfit for sale.
Seven samples of imported chocolate confectionery examined were found to contain excess
lead ranging from six to fifty-five parts per million. An ice lolly contained two parts per million
of lead and in view of the large amount of ice lollies likely to be consumed this quantity might
even prove dangerous.
Several samples were incorrectly labelled or had misleading labels.
Some French mustard was quite a satisfactory product but the disclosure of ingredients
failed to comply with the requirements of the Labelling of Food Order.
A sample of horseradish sauce was incorrectly labelled as the ingredients were not declared
in the correct order.
Some tomato vitamin made a claim for vitamin content but gave no indication of what
vitamins were present or of their quantity. Analysis indicated that it was an ordinary sample
of tomato puree.
Seven samples of fruit juice and vegetable juice products sold at a health store were examined
and all contained parahydroxybenzoic acid, a prohibited preservative. Whilst there is a
possibility that these juices might be held to be drugs and not foods under the definition of food,
according to the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, they are foods within the meaning of the Labelling
of Food Order and they will be foods according to the definition of food contained in the Food
and Drugs Bill now before Parliament. They contravened the Pharmacy and Medicines Act,
1941, if they were drugs in that they claimed to have been prepared by a secret process.
A packet of dextrose tablets bore the interesting statement on its label : "All carbohydrates
(starch food) must be converted into dextrose by the digestion before the body can absorb them."
Cane sugar, beet sugar and milk sugar are all carbohydrates, but only one-half of these is converted
to dextrose before they are absorbed into the body.
Seven other proprietary drugs were incorrectly labelled according to the Pharmacy and
Medicines Act, 1941, although they appeared to comply with the requirements of the Food and
Drugs Acts. Whilst manufacturers are responsible in practice for these irregularities, the retail
pharmacist is responsible at law under the Pharmacy and Medicines Act. Some of the mistakes
which occur are due to a failure to look up the relevant monographs of the British Pharmacopoeia