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MERCHANDISE MARKS ACTS, 1887 - 1953
The majority of the inspection work carried out under the
provisions of the above Acts is to ensure compliance with the requirements
of the various Marking Orders made under the provisions of the
Act of 1926. These Orders apply to the marking of the country of origin
on imported foodstuffs, principally meat, apples, tomatoes, dried fruits,
bacon, ham, poultry, butter and honey, upon sale and exposure for sale.
Inspections were made at 274 premises of 910 displays of these foodstuffs.
A firm of butchers was summoned for applying a false indication
of the country of origin to meat, and for failing to mark other meat
exposed for sale. Fines totalling £21. were imposed with £5.5s. costs.
LABELLING OF FOOD ORDER, 1953
This Order requires pre-packed food to be marked with the name
and address, or with the registered trade mark, of the packer or labeller.
It also requires such food to be labelled with its common or usual name
(if any), and in the case of a compounded food, with the names of the
ingredients in descending order of proportion by weight. Furthermore it
controls the manner in which the presence of vitamins and minerals is
disclosed and prescribes specific labelling of certain foods. A total
of 1,214 articles of pre-packed food was examined at 220 different
premises to verify compliances with these Regulations.
FALSE AND MISLEADING DESCRIPTIONS
Food advertisements and labels have been scrutinised for false
and misleading statements and descriptions. No serious infringements
were disclosed. Corrective action taken within the whole area of the
County has equal effect within each County district, and work under this
heading is combined with inspections made under the terms of the Merchandise
Marks Acts and the Labelling of Food Order.
A number of firms have labelled tins of Instant Coffee as
"100% Pure Coffee". This product consists of the instantly soluble
solids of coffee obtained by a process of dehydration. The insoluble
portion of the bean is omitted. Representations have been made to have
the description amended so that the product is not claimed to be whole
coffee. Other examples where corrective action was sought are set out as
follows:-
The percentage fat content marking on Continental Cheeses when
set out as a percentage "I.D.M.", changed to a comprehensible statement
of "Fat on the dry matter".
A Continental biscuit marked as "Cheese Filled", which contained
a filling only 20 per cent cheese.
Such descriptions of Continental soft cheeses as "Super-Creme",
"Triple-Creme" and “Cream" etc. amended to indicate the true nature of the
product, i.e. whole-milk cheese, cheese spread etc.
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