View report page

119
opportunity of buying articles of food in small quantities and in
the same way as the public are supplied. It also indicates the
persons who are regularly selling adulterated foods.
OBTAINING SAMPLES IN COURSE OF DELIVERY.—
By Section 3 of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act (Amendment
Act) 1879, local authorities are empowered to direct their
Inspectors to procure samples of milk in course of delivery. So
far, samples have only been taken in course of delivery where a
request has been made by a dairyman who had reason to suspect
the quality of his supply. In the case of milk, such samples
may be taken without the request of the purchaser or consignee.
Section 14 of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1899, extends the
powers relating to the taking of samples of milk in course of
delivery to every other article of food, provided a request has
been made or consent given for taking the sample by the purchaser
or consignee. By virtue of this Section, householders
may apparently request that samples be taken on delivery of
any article of food. So far, this right has not been exercised
by any inhabitant of this District.
FORMS OF ADULTERATION.—The adulterations practised
by the retailer, are limited to the addition of water to milk, or
the abstraction of its cream; the substitution of margarine for
butter; the addition of chicory to coffee; and the substitution
of low-priced and inferior oils for olive oil.
Sophistication of food in these days is carried on mainly
by the manufacturers, who are able to command scientific and
legal advice to assist them in their practices, and are able to pay
the fines inflicted upon the retailers of their goods.
I have extracted a few examples from reported cases
adjudicated upon in various parts of England during the year
1903