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The Canned Meat Product (Amendment) Regulations, 1968, came into force
on the 4th January, 1969. They will amend the principal regulations by exempting
canned sliced bacon from the requirement as to lean meat content; by setting a
separate standard for the meat content of a product suitable for slicing; and by
restricting the use of the expression " ready meal
The Sausage and Other Meat Product (Amendment) Regulations, 1968, also
came into force on the 4th January, 1969. They amend the principal regulations
by exempting a meat product after removal from its container and restricting the
use of the expression " ready mea".
The Medicines Act, 1968, will come into force on a day to be appointed by
the responsible Ministers. The Act makes new provisions with respect to medicinal
products and will be enforceable by the Pharmaceutical Society, or the Food and
Drugs Authority, or both, as will be specified. The parts of the Act which would
appear to be appropriate to the functions of the Food and Drugs Authority relate
to the adulteration of medicines, the sale to the prejudice of the purchaser of
medicines not of the nature or quality demanded, the labelling of containers, false
or misleading advertisements, general requirements as to construction of premises
and hygiene, and provisions relating to the sale of medicinal products on a general
sales list.
Composition and Labelling of Food and Drugs
A total of 672 samples of food and drugs were submitted to the Public Analyst
and 184 samples of milk were examined in the department's own laboratory,
representing a sampling rate of 3.2 per 1,000 population.
The Public Analyst reported adversely on 84 samples (12.5%). Fifty-four were
infringements of the Labelling of Food Order, 1953, which requires the majority of
pre-packed foods to bear a label giving information as to the name and address
of the packer, the name of the food and the ingredients of which it is composed.
Twenty-seven samples were unsatisfactory, inferior or adulterated, and in three
cases both labelling infringements and unsatisfactory conditions were found.
A manufacturer of milk chocolate for diabetic patients agreed to rectify an
ambiguity of wording on the label so that the calorific value per ounce is clear to
the consumer.
A blackcurrant health drink was stated to be triple vitamin C enriched but the
vitamin C content was very little in excess of that obtainable in a better class product
of this type. The manufacturer has now ceased this claim. A sample of celery
showed a pronounced blue discolouration in the heart, due to a copper spray applied
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