View report page

(b) Hereunder I give the Public Analyst's reports on the samples
examined which were found to be irregular or substandard. Whilst
no legal proceedings were instituted the matters complained of were
taken up with the manufacturers concerned with satisfactory results:
Sample No. 199. — Hamburger.
Hamburgers should contain about 80% or more of meat. This sample,
which contained 55% meat and 150 parts per million by weight sulphur
dioxide, is of the nature of beef sausage meat. If this article be regarded as
uncooked beef sausage meat it is allowed to contain sulphur dioxide as a
preservative provided a declaration of the addition is made in a prescribed
form. The addition of preservative to Hamburgers is not justified.
Sample No. 200. — Cheese Spread with Gorgonzola.
Cheese spread should contain not less than 20% of butterfat and not
more than 60% of moisture. This sample contained 17.6% butterfat and
61% moisture.
Sample No. 205. — Pale Ale.
The sample contained a flocculent sediment and a piece of matted substance
which was identified as a growth of a mould of the genus Penicillium.
The growth measured about l½" by ½"; it was of a yellowish green colour,
with white fringes. The flocculent matter consisted partly of disintegrated
mould mycclia, spores etc.
Sample No. 211. — Canned Drained Peas.
This article was submitted following a complaint of a bitter taste. The
Analyst confirmed that the taste of these peas was unusual, but there was no
evidence of the presence of any foreign or deleterious ingredients or impurities.
He attributes the unusual taste to a natural condition of these particular peas.
Samples Nos. 225 and 226. — Raspberry Lollies.
Although these lollies contained a little fruit juice they were also strongly
flavoured artificially, and a complaint as to taste had been received. Within
limits, the nature and degree of this flavouring is the responsibility of the
manufacturer in supplying what he believes to be acceptable to the public,
and although the Analyst did not personally appreciate the flavour, he was
not prepared to report against these lollies on the grounds of quality.