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Sampling Observations. It will be seen from the detailed
classification that of the two hundred and twenty-one samples
taken during the year 4.98% were found to be other than genuine
and labelling infringements accounted for a further 2.71%, making
a total of 7,69%.
For comparative purposes the figures for 1957 were 2.30% and
4.16% respectively, making a total of 6.46%,
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 co-operation
of retailers and manufacturers were usually readily adjusted.
COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC ANALYST
(Food and Drugs Act, 1955)
The sampling of Foods and Drugs in the Borough during 1958
has followed the usual pattern and details of the action taken in
those instances where 'adulteration" has been reported are included
in the Chief Public Health Inspector's Report. As usual a number
of interesting points have been discovered and in most cases any
alleged offences against the Act have been rectified by negotiation
with the vendors or manufacturers of the article concerned.
In these notes I usually confine myself to a discussion of
one or two of the more interesting cases and make comments on the
general working of the Food and Drugs Act as it appears to the
Public Analyst I shall do the same this year,
During the first quarter a sample of luncheon meat was found
to contain only 68 per cent of meat and., although there is no
legal standard of quality for this article in this country, your
public analyst is of the opinion that a minimum of 80 per cent
meat content is reasonable I have discussed before the reasons
why the public analyst has to make up his own mind as to what is
a reasonable standard for foods which have none prescribed by
law and, indeed, it is his inescapable duty to do so. In the case
of luncheon meat and of many other types of canned meats there has
been a tendency in the last few years for manufacturers to lower
the meat content in order to satisfy what has been described as a
public demand for a lower priced article. The public, however,
is often unable to distinguish between a meat preparation containing
a large amount of cereal or potato filler and additional
water from one which is composed essentially of meat We have
exactly the same difficulty with sausages,. It is imperative that
the public should not be misled by the description of articles of
food and luncheon meat is essentially a meat product containing
only small amounts of other substances if imitation foods containing
less meat and with a lower meat content are to be sold
they should not be described by the same name. This question is
somewhat complicated by the fact that large amounts of canned
meats are imported from other Countries, and manufacturers abroad
often find it difficult to understand our point of view,, Patient
negotiations and Instruction are usually the best way of dealing
with the problem and It Is these methods which the Borough has
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