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62
The adulteration of margarine with mineral oil in such large quantities is
rarely encountered nowadays. There are two reasons which may explain its
presence. The oil may either be deliberately added or the vegetable oils used
may have been extracted by the use of a crude solvent, part of which has
remained in the extracted oil. Margarine is defined as a food and therefore
the presence of mineral oil which is devoid of food value and may possibly be
deleterious to health is objectionable; mineral oil is also considerably cheaper.
In the case of G 31, no notice of a warranty defence was given but the solicitor
for the defence produced two invoices stamped with the warranty and bearing
June dates. The Council's solicitor pointed out that the sample had been
taken on May 18th, and the vendor was fined £1, with £2 2s. costs.
D 91. Contained mineral oil to the extent of 12.1 per cent, in the
fat or l0.0 per cent, in the sample.
D 92. Contained mineral oil to the extent of 12.6 per cent, in the
fat or 10.5 per cent, in the sample.
Samples D 91 and D 92 were obtained from a wholesale dealer, who
produced a warranty from the agents supplying him. Proceedings were taken
against this firm for issuing a false warranty. It was stated that the oil came
from Holland to the factory, where it was converted into margarine, and then
through agents and wholesalers to the retailers and eventually to the consumer.
The agents supplying the vendor paid .£3 3s. costs.
F 67 (Informal). Contained 13.0 per cent, of mineral oil. A further
sample purchased formally consisted of genuine margarine.
K 66 (Informal). Contained 1.8 per cent, excess water. A subsequent
formal sample was genuine.
Boron preservative was detected and estimated in 99 samples (70.7 per
cent.). In no case did the amount of preservative expressed as boric acid
exceed 0.5 per cent.
The presence of any preservative in margarine is prohibited from January
1st, 1927, and in articles of food containing preserved margarine from July 1st,
1927.
Cream and Preserved Cream
21 samples, all of preserved cream, were submitted for analysis, and of
these 1 or 4.8 per cent, was found to be adulterated.
L 74 (Informal). Contained 0.47 per cent, of boric acid. A further
sample taken formally from the same vendor was genuine.