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Some parsley and thyme stuffing contained 2.9 per cent. of fat, of which 40 per cent, had been
decomposed by the enzymes of the herbs to free fatty acids.
Fourteen samples of 'chili' or 'chilli' sauce were examined and were mostly satisfactory as
sauce, though one contained 800 parts per million of benzoic acid, the maximum quantity permitted
being 250 parts per million. Some of these samples were either tomato ketchup or tomato sauce.
One manufacturer claimed that the word' chili' referred to the country, others pointed out that
these descriptions are acceptable in America. There may be some sympathy with American
manufacturers wishing to market their products in this country under their American descriptions,
but this does not justify British manufacturers doing the same thing. A sample of pickled red
cabbage contained sugar and saccharin, the presence of which was not disclosed on the label and a
lime pickle contained 11.9 per cent. of salt without disclosure. A curry sauce was also incorrectly
labelled.
Two samples of solution of acetic acid contained excessive quantities of acetic acid, but one
can accept the fact that such an excess would not have been added intentionally on account of
cost. The tin container of a sample of soya bean oil leaked rather badly and as soya bean oil oxidises
fairly readily, not only would the purchaser obtain short measure, but the product would rapidly
become rancid.
Food Legislation
The year brought little change in food legislation, although the Food Standards Committee
issued two long reports, of which mention will be made later.
The Food Hygiene (General) Regulations, 1960, consolidated and amended the previous
regulations. One amendment extends the regulations to cover the cleaning of food utensils and
equipment, but it is remarkable that no regulations have yet been made to cover the material of
which food handling utensils and equipment are made. Over many years attention has been drawn
to the risk involved in using articles such as enamelware coated with antimony enamels and toasting
prongs coated with lead, but it is still necessary to show that the food stored in or treated with
this equipment has been contaminated before any action can be taken.
The Milk (Special Designation) Regulations, 1960, prescribe modifications of the existing
Methylene blue test, provide a fresh Phosphatase test for pasteurised milk, and also provide a
new test, the Clot-on-Boiling Test for tuberculin tested milk.
The Skimmed Milk with Non-Milk Fat Regulations, 1960, cover fresh ground in food law in as
much as they provide for the sale of milk, condensed milk, and dried milk, from which the original
milk fat has been removed and replaced by other fats or oils. Fats and oils used for this exchange
are generally of vegetable origin and are intended primarily for persons suffering from coronary
disease, and the reconstituted milk products are not to be used for babies.
The Regulations are unfortunate in that they 'do not apply to any food intended at the time of
sale for export from the United Kingdom,' because certain foreign governments accept foods,
which comply with the requirements of the British Food and Drugs Act to be admitted into their
countries and accept the certificates either of any public analyst or of certain recognised public
analysts to this effect. Any Regulations should, therefore, be so worded that they apply only to
countries where there are no restrictions. Another unfortunate provision in these regulations is
that the labelling requirements do not apply to sales to catering or manufacturing businesses or
to sales for immediate consumption. One would have thought that the casual consumer or ' eaterout
' is as much entitled to know what he is consuming as the purchaser buying a pre-packed food
for use in the home.
The Arsenic in Food (Amendment) Regulations, 1960, increase the amount of arsenic in
brewers' yeast to be used in manufacture from 2.0 to 5.0 parts per million when calculated on the
dry matter, but make no other alteration to the existing regulations.
The Report of the Departmental Committee on ' Milk Composition in the United Kingdom '
occupies some 86 pages and makes 23 main recommendations, which may be summarised as
follows :—
(a) Milk should continue to be sold as it comes from the cow except for separated and other -
grades, which must be clearly labelled ;
(b) Efforts should be made to improve the quality of milk both with regard to fat and solids-
not-fat, though the committee is more concerned about the solids-not-fat than the fat content;