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Dr. Hamence considered that at some stage the milk had suffered
from some form of decomposition and was no longer suitable
for human consumption. As a result of this report 84 tins of the
particular brand of milk were surrendered for destruction.
Rolls and Butter
Three samples of rolls and butter purchased in cafes in the district
were found to contain margarine. In view of the prices charged and
the fact that plenty of butter is now available it would seem the practice
of serving margarine for butter in cafes and restaurants without
the display of an appropriately worded notice is the survival of
a war-time custom which is now plainly dishonest.
Warning letters were sent by the Council to the three vendors
concerned.
Sausages
Recent Court decisions have made the sampling of sausages in
respect of their meat content futile but samples have been taken for
examination in respect of the preservative content. In one instance
beef sausages were found to contain preservative though no notice
to the effect was exhibited in the shop. A warning letter was sent
to the butcher concerned and a further letter to all shops where
sausages were sold drawing attention to the requirements of the
Public Health (Preservatives in Food) Regulations.
Cream Soups
A sample of Cream of Mushroom Soup which was being sold at
approximately half the normal price was examined and found to
contain no appreciable quantity of butter fat and had a total fat
content of only 3 per cent. Cream soups prepared with fat other than
butter fat should contain at least 3½ per cent of fat.
The firm selling the soup immediately withdrew the brand from
sale when informed of the result of the analysis and correspondence
with the suppliers revealed that this particular brand was in fact
old stock having been manufactured about 1951 and that margarine
had been used in which the moisture content varied considerably.
In my last report I commented that it would be the policy of the
department as far as possible not to sample foods known to be satisfactory
and that a constant watch would be kept for new types of
foods, packings and manufacturers. This policy has been adhered to
and is responsible for what may, at first glance, appear to be a rather
high percentage of unsatisfactory samples.
Also, the importance of sampling foods and drugs known to
deteriorate after long storage and those foods on sale at prices
below those generally recognised is emphasised by the results of the
year's work.
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