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247
FOOD AND DRUGS.
Under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 156 samples of food
and drugs were taken and analysed. The results are shown in
Table V.
Ten of the samples purchased in the Borough in 1917 were
not satisfactory ; and, therefore, the percentage of non-genuine
samples amounted to 6.4 per cent., as compared with 7.7 per cent,
for the preceding year. This is below the figure for London
as a whole.
10*4 per cent, of the 77 Milk samples were unsatisfactory, as
against 8*3 per cent, during the preceding year ; but in some cases
the deficiency below the legal limits wras very slight.
In London the percentage of Milk samples reported against
was about 11 during 1917.
It should be added that many of the samples purchased were
below the quality of the average milk supply of London, although
they were a trifle above the low legal limits which have been fixed.
All the samples of Milk, Butter, Cream and Margarine were
tested for antiseptics, with the result that 0 of the samples of Milk,
3 of Cream, 11 of Margarine, and 10 of Butter were found to contain
them. In no case was the amount sufficient to warrant a
prosecution, and in each case boric acid was found ; but in one
or two instances the vendors were cautioned.
All but one of the 14 Butter samples taken throughout the
year were found to be satisfactory.