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For comparative purposes the figures for 1955 were 3.52%
and 2.2% respectively making a total of 5.72%.
The pattern of sampling has followed that of previous years
in that a wide range of commodities has been covered. A
satisfying result has emerged since the infringements revealed
were generally of a minor character and with the willing cooperation
of retailers or manufacturers were quite readily
adjusted.
COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC ANALYST
(Food and Drugs Act, 1955)
In my notes for 1955, I referred to the passing of the Food
and Drugs Act, 1955, (which came into force on the 1st January
1956) and said that it would be interesting to see how the new
Act was working in a years time.
Some alterations and additions of particular interest to
the public analyst which have been brought about by the new Act
are as follows:-
(a) Control of the preparation and sale of injurious foods
and adulterated drugs is extended and the cumulative effects of
consuming food containing injurious substances may now be taken
into account.
(b) The sale to the prejudice of the purchaser of a food or
drug not of the nature, substance or quality demanded has been
strengthened by the removal of two former defences, one applying
to food or drugs the subject of a patent and the other to
proprietary medicines.
(c) The Ministries concerned with the operation of this Act
are given widely extended powers to make Regulations to require,
prohibit or regulate the addition of substances to foods, to
regulate the composition of foods, and to control processes or
treatment in the preparation of food. At the same time, the
Ministries are instructed that they shall have regard to the
desirability of restricting, so far as practicable, the use of
substances of no nutritional value.
(d) The Ministries are also given powers to make Regulations
as to the labelling, marking or advertising of food intended for
sale and as to the descriptions which may be applied to such foods.
(e) Wider control is applied to the sale of reconstituted
cream and imitation cream, and a description which includes the
word "cream" (whether or not aspart of a composite word) may not
now be used in relation to any substance which resembles cream,
but is not cream, or to any article of food containing such a
substance.
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