View report page

used with frequent success in the past in connection with most of
the samples which I have found to he irregular.
There are, however, from time to time cases where negotiation
is rejected by the manufacturer or where the seriousness of the
offence is such that legal action is called for and a case in
point this year was in connection with the sample of Milk. Chocolate,
No,Al068, This sample was found to be a substitute of the worst
possible type in which the whole milk traditionally present in
milk chocolate had been replaced by skimmed milk and the natural
cocoa butter by some other vegetable fat, The fact that this
article could be sold at something like half the price of genuine
milk chocolate is of particular interest.
For various reasons no legal action was taken in this case
and the article Itself appears to have gone off the market, but it
illustrates the point that adulteration of a serious nature does
still occur and that it will be necessary for Food and Drugs
Authorities to bring such cases to the Courts if the public are to
be protected from such misdescription.
Excluding milk samples,, all of which were satisfactory, the
number of samples found to be irregular were seventeen out of a
total of 165 - or 10.3. per cento This is a high proportion, but
it should not be inferred that Sutton and Cheam is a 'black spot'
in this respect, I feel sure it is due to the intelligent keenness
with which the Chief Public Health Inspector and his staff
approach this aspect of their work and in these comments I am
happy to express my thanks for their help and co-operation.
Finally a word about contamination by radioactivity. This
is a subject Which is in everybody's mind and is the natural concern
of Public Health Authorities throughout the country, I felt
strongly during 1958 that Public Analysts should be ready as far
as possible to advise their authorities on the scientific aspects
of this problem and to examine where necessary samples of foods,
waters, effluents, soil etc. for possible contamination, Under
the Food and Drugs Act, as far as foods are concerned, it will of
course be the duty of a public analyst to consider this in his
general survey when passing certain foods as suitable for human
consumption and I have gone to some considerable trouble and
expense in equipping myself with the necessary up-to-date knowledge
and instruments for carrying out this work. How far local authorities
will become involved in the immediate future is a matter of
conjecture but in the coming atomic age vigilance will always be
necessary.
MILK SUPPLY
Food and Drugs Act, 1955
Milk and Dairies Regulations 1949-1953
The Milk (Special Designation) (Raw Milk) Regulations 1919-1954
The Milk (Special Designation) (Pasteurised and Sterilised Milk)
Regulations 1949-1953
The Borough of Sutton and Cheam is a specified area for the
purpose of the Milk (Special Designations) (Specified Areas) Order
1951, therefore all milk sold in the Borough is designated milk,
23