View report page

108
C 148 (Wholesaler). Contained 216 parts sulphur dioxide per
million or 7.25 times the permitted quantity. Wholesaler fined
£5 with £3 3s. Od. costs.
The only constituent of the powders which may contain sulphur dioxide
is starch, in which 100 parts per million are allowed. As the powders contained
30.3 and 29.8 per cent. of starch respectively the amount of sulphur dioxide
found in the powders would represent 580 and 725 parts sulphur dioxide per
million respectively in the starch.
As these figures appeared unusually high for starch, by courtesy of the
firms concerned, samples of all the ingredients used were obtained. These
samples, under various fancy names, consisted of sodium phosphate and
maize starch, sodium bicarbonate, acid calcium phosphate, rice starch, eggyellow
dye and neutral calcium phosphate.
All of these were examined for sulphur dioxide and sulphates and all
were satisfactory, with the exception of the neutral calcium phosphate, which
was labelled " dryer." This substance is an unusual constituent of baking
powder or egg-substitute powder, and from its name is presumably used to
keep the mixture dry. This powder contained 10,560 parts sulphur dioxide
per million and some sulphate and was responsible for the sulphur dioxide in
the egg substitute.
Counsel for the defence stated that sulphur dioxide had been found in
the " dryer " by their analyst, and that the firm supplying them on warranty
with the " dryer " admitted that it had been examined for lead and arsenic
but not for sulphur dioxide.
The powders consisted of dyed baking powder, the dye being presumably
the substitute for the egg.
Grape Fruit Out of 4 samples of grape fruit squash examined, 3 were found to be
Squash. adulterated.
B 104 (Informal). Contained 110 parts sulphur dioxide per million
and benzoic acid. (Sample too small to determine the quantity.)
B 138 (Informal. Same vendor). Contained 210 parts sulphur
dioxide per million and 230 parts benzoic acid per million.
B 187 (Same vendor). Contained 195 parts sulphur dioxide per
million and 245 parts benzoic acid per million.