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83
The Royal Commission on Food Preservatives made the following recommendations
: —
(1) That the use of formalin in foods or drinks be absolutely prohibited, and
that salicylic acid be not used in greater proportion than one grain per
pint in liquid food and 1 grain per pound in solid food.
Its presence in all cases to be declared.
(2) That the use of any preservative or colouring matter whatever in milk
offered for sale in the United Kingom be constituted an offence under
the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.
(3) That the only preservative which it shall be lawful to use in cream be
boric acid or mixtures of boric acid and borax, and in amount not
exceeding .25 per cent. expressed as boric acid. The amount of such
preservative to be notified by a label upon the vessel.
(4) That the only preservative permitted to be used in butter and margarine
be boric acid or mixture of boric acid and borax, to be used in proportions
not exceeding .5 per cent. expressed as boric acid.
(5) That in the case of all dietetic preparations intended for the use of invalids
or infants, chemical preservatives of all kinds be prohibited.
(6) That the use of copper salts in the so-called greening of preserved foods
be prohibited.
(7) That means be provided either by the establishment of a separate Court
of Reference or by the imposition of more direct obligation on the
Local Government Board, to exercise supervision over the use of preservatives
and colouring matters in foods, and to prepare schedules of
such as may be considered inimical to the public health.
Though the Commission issued their Report in 1901, no action has yet been
taken by the Legislature in promoting a bill on the lines indicated in the above
recommendations.
Factory and Workshop Act.
There were on the Register at the end of the year 1,655 workshops.
2,266 visits were made to these. 79 were found to be overcrowded, but the
nuisance was abated as soon as the owners received a notice from us. It was not
found necessary to take Police Court proceedings in a single instance.
Additional means of ventilation were provided in 68 workshops. Many workshops
were found to be without sufficient water-closet accommodation, and 123 additional
ones were provided.