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39
a prosecution is decided upon in respect of a few parts per million being
present of a substance such as this in a common commodity like oranges,
sold perhaps by traders who have no precise knowledge of the effects of
chemicals 011 their wares. It should, however, be pointed out quite
clearly that the presence of any Thiourea in fruit is a contravention of
the Public Health Preservatives in Food etc. Regulations, and that
regulations of this kind are designed solely to protect the public from
the possible adverse effects of anything they buy. It is not my view
that prosecution is often the course of election, but in certain circumstances—
and I consider the Thiourea practice one of them—it is
necessary publicly to establish the responsibility of vendors to the
purchasers, for products which are sold. In the case of Thiourea which
attained widespread national publicity earlier in the year, there can be
little reason for anyone engaged in the trade not knowing that in fact
this practice was illegal and had potential dangers. It is not and
should not be the basis of our policy that action should be taken after
trouble has resulted, rather than that potential dangers to health should
be avoided.
Vitamin Preparations.
I am not sure that the actual keeping qualities of vitamins are
determinable with certainty at the present time and analysis may
further show some minor deviation from an accepted standard. There
is, however, 110 evidence from our sampling that serious vitamin
deficiency had occurred in any particular case.
Food and Drugs Act, 1938—Section 13 and Bye-Laws made
under Section 15 of the Food and Drugs Act.
44 notices were served during the year 011 owners or occupiers of
premises coming within the scope of these sections of the Food and
Drugs Act, 1938. No statutory action was subsequently required.
Food Complaints.
It will be noted that of the 25 complaints deemed worthy of
comment and listed below, a warning resulted in 12 cases, no further
action was necessary in 10, advice was given in 2, and one prosecution
—successful—resulted.
Bakers' products, usually bread, formed the basis of 9 complaints,
meat and milk of 5 each, vegetables 3, and 2 miscellaneous.
Very detailed investigation is given to every complaint and action
is determined accordingly.
If complaint is made concerning an articlc which has passed through
several hands after being sold or has been in the possession of the
purchaser for some time and has been exposed to interference by others
it is extremely difficult precisely to allocate blame to the vendor or
manufacturer.