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121
unfair competition which dealers in unadulterated articles have
to contend with.
It is to be hoped that the next Annual Report for this
Borough will show a still greater improvement.
Of the 451 samples taken in the Borough during the year
in review, 270 were Milk, 76 Butter, 28 Coffee, 9 Spirits, 42
Drugs, 26 Sundries. (See Tables A and B.)
MILK.—This is the most important article of food, and it
is also the one most easily and most frequently adulterated.
For this reason alone it is important that it should form the
larger proportion of samples obtained.
During the year 270 samples were submitted, 17.41 per
cent, of which were adulterated, compared with 20.61 per cent.
in 1902.
Compared with other London Boroughs the percentage
of adulterations is high. (See Table G.)
The average composition of the samples submitted shows
a slight improvement over those submitted in the previous year.
(See Table F.)
Dyed Milks.—Sixty per cent, of the milks examined were
artificially coloured, either by annato or aniline. This practice
is adopted to give the article a rich yellow appearance with the
object too often of masking its inferior quality.
Preservatives.—Boracic acid and formalin were present
in several samples.
The drugging of milk by these articles is regrettable, the
operation frequently being carried out by several dealers before
it reaches the consumer. The farmer puts a little in to preserve
the milk, and the wholesale dealer not knowing it adds a little
more, and finally the retailer repeats the operation.