View report page

80
Margarine.
141 samples were analysed of which 2, or T4 per cent., were returned as
adulterated.
T 47 (informal).
Contained 06 per cent of
boric acid.
No further action.
H 63.
Contained 60 per cent. of
butter. (The Butter and
Margarine Acts prohibit
the sale of Margarine containing
more than 10 per
cent. of butter).
The vendor was prosecuted
for other offences
against the Butter and
Margarine Acts. (See
below).
The only preservative detected was boric acid. The maximum amount of
boric acid allowed is 0.5 per cent.
7, or 5 per cent. of the samples were free from boric acid.
30, or 21 per cent. of the samples contained 0.l per cent. boric acid.
42 „ 30 „ „ „ 0.2
32 ,, 22 ,, ,, „ 0.3 ,, ,,
25 ,, 18 ,, ,, ,, 0.4 ,, ,,
4 „ 3 „ ,, ,, 0.5 ,, ,,
1,, 1 ,, ,, 0.6,, ,,
The Butter and Margarine Acts require that each parcel of margarine
exposed for sale shall be clearly marked " MARGARINE" in printed capital
letters of not less than one and a half inches, and that it shall be sold in a
wrapper on which the word " MARGARINE" is printed in half inch letters.
The Acts further provide that no other printed matter shall appear on the
wrapper.
In 39 cases the vendors had infringed these regulations. Thus, offences
were committed in connection with 27.7 per cent. of the samples purchased.
The corresponding figure in 1921 was 28.4 per cent. and in 1920 27.4 per cent.
There appears to be great laxity in carrying out the requirements of the law.
During 1920 and 1921, summonses were taken out in 40 cases, 8 vendors
were individually cautioned and a circular letter on the subject was sent
to all retailers. In spite of this action in the previous years there was no
improvement in 1922.
In a number of cases improper wrappers were supplied with " Kosher "
(Jewish) margarine, which is free from animal fat. These margarines are
usually put up in half-pound packages with a fancy wrapper which contains
other printed matter besides the word "MARGARINE." In some cases,
when a quarter of a pound was purchased, the only wrapper was a half of one
of these wrappers, the printed matter consisting of a portion of the word
" MARGARINE " together with other words or portions of words. There is
no objection to these labels provided a properly printed wrapper, having
the word " MARGARINE " and nothing else on it, is used in addition.