View report page

Sampling Observations. Of the two hundred and twelve samples
taken during the year 2.83 per cent were found to be other than
genuine, and labelling infringements in some form of another
accounted for a further 1.88 per cent.
For comparative purposes the respective figures for 1952
were 4.91 and 3.27 per cent.
Having regard to the wide variety of articles sampled it
will be seen that the observations made and the infringements
reported by the Public Analyst have in the main been of a generally
minor character.
Comments by the Public Analyst. The general relaxation of
restrictions on the sale of food, the revocation of price control
orders and rationing orders has continued throughout the year,
and it has become increasingly necessary to maintain the quality
of foodstuffs at a level certainly not less than that required by
the various control orders previously in force. Sometimes this
has been done by re-enacting previous standards in new Food
Standards Orders but in other cases it has been left to Food and
Drugs Authorities to establish a standard based on commercial
quality. The wide range of foodstuffs sampled by the Borough's
Sampling Officers is thus invaluable in providing a basis for the
Analyst's Judgment of quality and in ensuring the maintenance of
a reasonable standard.
An example of the successful stand which Analysts and Food
and Drugs Authorities have made followed the revocation of the
Meat Control Order. It was then forecast that the quality of
sausages would fall badly, but in practice the average meat
content has risen and I have experienced no case of a deficiency
much below the earlier legal standard of 50 per cent meat content
for beef and 65 per cent for pork.
This year has also seen the publication of a new British
Pharmacopoeia which includes numerous new drugs and eliminates
many old favourites. As an example of the latter, Parrlsh's
Chemical Food is no longer "Official" in the Pharmacopoeia.
During the year the Labelling of Food Order has been revised
and consolidated, but the important feature requiring the
specification of the ingredients of pre-packed food remains
unchanged.
As in other years attention has been paid to ensuring that
foods are as free as possible from metallic contamination. During
the summer, ice lollies received much public interest in the press
as being liable to this form of contamination, but samples taken,
in the Borough were free from objection.
There is perhaps one other item of particular interest
arising out of the year's sampling. The use of the term "butter"
in describing confectionery has rightly been condemned unless a
proportion of butter has been used in the manufacture. This
subject has previously received official comment in a Ministry of
Food Circular where a general standard of 4 per cent butter fat
17