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of meat, so that this sample was approximately 38 per cent. deficient. The follow-up sample
contained 25 per cent. of meat and was satisfactory. A pork pie contained only 20 per cent, of
meat but the follow-up sample contained 29 per cent. and was satisfactory. Apart from the
recommendation of the Food Standards Committee, Public Analysts have for a long time maintained
that meat pies should contain not less than 25 per cent. of meat.
The sausage filling of some sausage rolls was 20 per cent. deficient in meat content. It contained
33 per cent. of meat and, allowing for the fat absorbed into the pastry, the meat content of the
filling could not have been more than 40 per cent. The manufacturers suggested that sausages
used in the manufacture of sausage rolls should be of a poorer quality than sausages not intended
for this purpose, but this view was not shared by your analyst.
Three samples of ravioli examined were deficient in meat, containing respectively 30 per cent.,
31 per cent., and 38 per cent. on the fillings, or 12.45 per cent., 14.9 per cent., and 15.6 per cent.
on the whole ravioli respectively. The meat fillings must contain not less than 60 per cent. meat.
A sample of Cannelloni was not labelled with its ingredients in accordance with the requirements
of the Labelling of Food Order.
Three snack meal products were considered to bear misleading illustrations. These implied the
presence of more meat than was actually the case and that mushrooms were present as half or whole
mushrooms. Two contained 29 per cent. each, and the other 37 per cent. of meat, and the mushroom
had been minced. The labels gave the impression that the spaghetti, macaroni and noodles were
separate from the meat, whereas the whole had been mixed together.
A complaint was received about some Scotch eggs which contained only 7.6 per cent. of egg,
whereas Scotch egg should consist of about 50 per cent. of egg. The description 'Scotch Egg'
was considered to be incorrect, but the product might be described as ' minced pork and egg'.
A canned mulligatawny soup contained only 7.5 per cent. of total solid matter, including 0.75
per cent. of protein and 0.32 per cent. of fat. When there were standards for soups during the
war, mulligatawny soup had to contain 13 per cent. of total solid matter, including 2 per cent.
of protein and 2 per cent. of fat, whilst the' Advertising, Labelling and Composition of Food'
booklet required not less than 6 per cent. of meat, excluding bone and fat. A canned turkey soup
contained 8.76 per cent. of total solid matter and 0.818 per cent. of protein and was, therefore,
20 per cent. deficient in protein matter. Of two further samples examined one was still low and
stated to be from an old batch, the other was satisfactory.
An olive oil was reported as inferior because the free acid, calculated as oleic acid, was 1.15 per
cent. and the oil had a definitely rancid flavour. A sample of mustard oil was also slightly rancid.
It was a satisfactory cold pressed oil from mustard seed and although popular among Indians,
for the British market it should be labelled 'Mustard and Seed Oil,' as in this country we understand
oil of mustard to be the volatile oil, a fact that was recognised in the Food Standards (Mustard)
Order.
A malt beverage was incorrectly labelled. It was stated to contain milk, whereas this should
have been described as ' milk solids
An artificially coloured and flavoured cordial was sold as 'Rose Cordial', whereas it should
be labelled 'Rose Flavoured Cordial'. It did not contain any rose juice and, as 'Rose Cordial'
is a non-citrus fruit squash within the meaning of the Soft Drinks Order, it would have to contain
not less than 10 per cent. of fruit juice, a quantity which would be prohibitive.
Two food colours contained an excess of lead with 31 parts and 150 parts per million respectively,
calculated on the total solids. The permitted limit is 20 parts per million, calculated on the dry
matter. A follow-up sample contained 31 parts per million of lead and a further sample received
much later contained 52 parts per million, calculated on the total solids.
A product submitted as 'Mezap' bore no declaration of ingredients but appeared to consist of
roast ground sesame seed. No definition of the word ' Mezap ' could be found.
A vitamin diet supplement was incorrectly labelled as the general ingredients were incorrectly
declared and the quantities of vitamins and minerals were not given.
Some gin was only 60.9 per cent. proof and therefore contained 11.2 per cent. of added water.
The dilution was due to the gin being placed in a glass previously used for gin and tonic.
The contents of a packet containing Turkish Coffee consisted of finely ground coffee without a
label but, as it was a prepacked article, it must be labelled in accordance with the requirements
of the Labelling of Food Order.
A product stated to consist of eggplant ashes and sea salt was stated to cure and prevent tooth
decay. In reality it contained ash 95.1 per cent., acid-insoluble ash 0.179 per cent, salt 85.6 per