View report page

57
The Local Government Board has called attention to
the large proportion which the number of dairy-produce
samples, taken in this Borough, bears to the number of samples
of other articles of food and drugs, and enquires the reason for
this. In the first place I have to point out that in 1904,
immediately preceding the three years mentioned in the letter
of the L.G.B., 50 samples of articles other than dairy produce
were taken, the total number for the past five years being 126.
Out of this number 6 samples were returned as adulterated, or
4-8 per cent, but in not one of these cases of adulteration were
proceedings taken. One was a sample of camphorated oil which
gave 2-3 per cent, deficiency of camphor, but the deficiency was
not considered sufficient to justify a prosecution. Four were
samples of brandy, but notices were posted in the houses where
they were bought stating that the brandy was not guaranteed
to be wholly distilled from grape spirit. One was a sample of
coffee which had a wrapper on which it was described to contain
a mixture of coffee and cbicory. On the other hand, of the
samples of milk taken during the past 6 years, 6.7 per cent,
were found to be adulterated and proceedings were taken in the
great majority; and of the samples of butter taken during the
same period, 7.9 per cent, were adulterated and proceedings
taken in almost every case. It appears tben that in this
Borough (1) there is less adulteration of non-dairy produce than
of milk and butter, and (2) such adulteration as occurs is so
covered by the exhibition of legal notices as to render its
suppression difficult or impossible. It is further to be noted
that the adulterations which are met with of articles other than
dairy produce rarely, if ever, are such as to injuriously affect
health. The adulterations of spirits which have been met with
recently, although a fraud on the purchaser, are by no means
prejudicial to health. It is to be regretted that the British
Public should not appreciate a good cup of coffee, but it must