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24
Safe Milk. Twenty-four samples of raw milk were procured
in Enfield and tested for the presence of tubercle bacilli. All were
satisfactory.
Ninety-five samples of milk were procured and checked for
efficiency of pasteurisation or sterilisation. Two samples failed
the methylene blue test, and the prescribed notices were sent to
the sellers. Visits of inspection were made to 125 premises licenced
for the storage of designated milks.
Advertising and Labelling Infringements. In addition to the
volume of work carried out in Enfield many of the samples procured
in other parts of the county are foodstuffs and drugs nationally
retailed, and this has the effect of protecting the residents of Enfield
as well as the rest of the county. Examples of such samples on
which action has been taken in 1961, are as follows :—
The manufacturer of a non-alcoholic wine was challenged on
the ground that the description was a contradication in terms and
the label was amended to " non-alcoholic beverage."
The importer of a slimming food was challenged on claims
made in advertising literature as to the vitamin concentration
claimed to be present, and the literature was subsequently corrected.
A manufacturer's claim of slimming properties for "reducing perles"
was challenged and the product was withdrawn. The claim relied
on the presence of purgatives and bladderwrack. The slimming
claim made for a lemon juice in a television advertisement was
modified after the manufacturer had been challenged as to the
efficiency of the product as a slimming agent.
A label on butter "the creamiest of butters "was withdrawn
after the manufacturer was challenged on the ground that the
butter contained about 82 per cent. of fat, not "the creamiest of
butters" which would be nearer 88 per cent. of fat. A "rum and
butter" candy which contained no rum was objected to and relabelled
" rum flavour and butter candy."
An importer was advised that cod caviar was a false description,
caviar being the roe of the sturgeon.
A sample of cream cheese of Scottish origin was found on analysis
to contain 41 per cent. of butter fat, below the standard of 50
per cent. set by several Middlesex courts, and the manufacturer
agreed to increase the butter fat content of his cheese to conform
to this standard. Another manufacturer was advised that" mushrooms
in creamed sauce "would be a misleading description because
butter fat was absent.
A sample of a breakfast food which had been procured for
analysis was claimed to be "real banana flavour." The flavouring