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Soup. A sample of “Cream of Leek” soup mix was found,
when made up in accordance with the manufacturer's directions, to
contain less fat than is required for tinned cream of leek soup. A
letter of caution was sent to the seller pointing out the misleading
nature of the label attached to this food.
Merchandise Marks Acts, 1887 - 1953. The majority of the
inspection work carried out under the provisions of the above Acts
relates to ensuring that the requirements of the various Marking
Orders made under the provisions of the Act of 1926, and which
relate to the marking of certain imported foodstuffs when exposed
for sale or sold, are complied with. Inspections were made at 264
separate premises of 1,270 separate displays of meat, apples, tomatoes,
poultry, dried fruit, bacon, butter and salmon.
One firm of butchers was prosecuted for twelve offences of
failing to mark imported meat with an indication of origin and three
offences for marking South African and Australian meat as
“Argentine.” The defendant Company was fined a total of
£54 0s. 0d. Another firm of butchers was prosecuted for selling
and for exposing for sale New Zealand lamb marked “English”
they were fined a total of £30 0s. 0d. together with £4 15s. 7d. costs.
One other Company was prosecuted for exposing tomatoes for
sale with a false indication of origin, and were fined £5 0s. 0d. with
£2 2s. 0d. costs. Another Company received an official caution for
exposing for sale Dutch tomatoes labelled “Home Grown.”
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 with the
names of the ingredients of a compounded food. It also controls
the manner in which the presence of vitamins and minerals is
disclosed and prescribes specific labelling of certain foods.
A total of 2,252 articles of pre-packed food were examined at
222 premises to ascertain whether the above requirements were
complied with; no serious infringements of this Order were detected.
False or Misleading Descriptions. As in previous years food
advertisements and labels have been scrutinised for false or misleading
statements and descriptions. Much of this scrutiny of
food labels can be combined with inspection work under the
Labelling of Food Order. No serious infringements were disclosed.
Corrective action was secured in relation to descriptions applied
to "milk block," "Double Tea," an imitation cream powder, cakes
filled with a mixture of butter and sugar, canned mixed vegetables,
raspberry syrup, powdered soup mixes, medium red salmon,
gorgonzola cheese spread and cheese spread.