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Cut Mixed Peel
A sample of cut mixed peel was found to contain sulphur dioxide preservative within the permitted
limits, but its presence was not indicated in the list of ingredients. The cartons are being reprinted
and the omission made good.
Cream of Tomato Soup
Tn one sample the total fat content was 2.6 per cent which included 0.5 per cent of butterfat. The
fat content should have consisted entirely of butterfat.
Canned Fruit
Two samples of fruit cocktail examined did not have the list of ingredients stated on the label.
The attention of the importers was drawn to the omissions which were subsequently corrected.
In the case of another sample, pineapple rings were depicted in an illustration on the can decorated
with cherries, although there were no cherries in the can. The attention of the importers was drawn
to the Food Standards Committee Report on Claims and Misleading Descriptions published in 1966,
which recommended, inter alia, that ingredients or garnishings must not be portrayed if they are not
present in the container. It was agreed that the cans should be relabelled.
Fresh Fruit
Five samples of grapefruit and oranges marked 'Seedless' were examined. In two cases the fruit was
found to contain seeds and the proprietors of the shops concerned were requested to remove the misleading labels.
Mince and Sausages
The addition of sulphur dioxide to minced meat has been prohibited for a number of years in England and
Wales. No samples were found to contain sulphur dioxide.
Sulphur dioxide preservative is permitted in sausages provided that the amount uoes not exceed 450 parts
per million and is declared at the time of sale either by means of a statement on the wrapper or by means
of a notice conspicuously displayed in the shop. One sample of beef sausages was found to contain undeclared
preservative and a warning letter was sent to the butcher concerned. In 8 other cases the declaration
on the wrapper did not comply with the requirements of Paragraph 3 of Schedule 3 of the Preservatives
in Food Regulations 1962, which states that the declaration of the presence of preservative shall be
printed distinctly and legibly in dark block type upon a light coloured ground or in light block type upon a
dark coloured ground, the type being not less than one-eighth of an inch in height, within a surrounding line.
In none of the samples of sausages did the meat content fall below 65 per cent in respect of the pork
variety of 50 per cent in respect of beef. Whilst these figures are not yet a legal standard they have been
generally accepted by the trade. On the 31st May 1969 the Sausage and Other Meat Product Regulations
1967 will make these standards obligatory. During the year, 22 samples of pork sausages were examined
and these had an average meat content of 73.1 per cent. In respect of the 13 samples of beef sausages
examined the average meat content was 59 per cent.
Ice Cream
There are two small premises in the Borough where ice cream is manufactured.
There are also 8 freezers in shop premises dispensing soft ice cream, in addition to an unknown number
installed in vans and being operated by itinerant vendors. This latter type of vendor requires
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