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The following comments are made regarding some of the unsatisfactory samples:Cream
Cheese
Comments have been made in the two previous Annual Reports concerning the practice
of selling full fat soft cheese as cream cheese. This practice has continued in spite of the
fact that as long ago as 1962 the Food Standards Committee made recommendations for the
fat content of all soft cheeses, which recommendations were subsequently incorporated in
the Cheese Regulations 1965. These Regulations were subsequently amended by the Cheese
Regulations 1970. During the year four samples of "cream cheese" were found in fact to be
full fat soft cheese. Legal proceedings were instituted in three of the cases and a fourth
case concerning a sample taken during 1968 was also heard during the year under review.
In each of the cases a fine of £10 was imposed.
Margarine
Ten samples of margarine were examined during the year and in no instance was there
found to be a deficiency in the declared vitamin content. One sample however contained a
slight excess of moisture and the attention of the packer was drawn to the matter.
Dried Milk
Again one sample of dried milk was found to contain excessive moisture. As in
previous cases where excessive moisture has been found the milk was packed in a waxed
paper bag inside a light cardboard carton and the attention of the distributors concerned
was drawn to this unsatisfactory method of packing an article which is readily susceptible
to the absorption of moisture.
Canned Fruit
Two cans of fruit preserve imported from India were examined; the first contained as
a preservative Benzoic acid which is not permitted as a preservative in this type of product
and the contents also showed black stains due to traces of iron which were thought possible
to have come from a pan in which the preserve was prepared. In the case of the second can,
Sorbic acid was present which is not permitted by the Preservative in Foods Regulations 1962
as a preservative in fruit preserve. A claim was also made on the label for vitamins which was
not justified in view of the minute amounts present.
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