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15
The Adulteration of Food Act.
This Act has been in force in this District during the last six months.
On the 13th January last the Board appointed Dr. Tidy, Lecturer on
Chemistry at the London Hospital, as Analyst to this District, subject to the
approval of the Local Government Board, for a period of six calendar
months, to make such analyses as may be required to be made within the
District, for the purposes named in, and contemplated by, the Act for the
Prevention of the Adulteration of Food and Drink and of Drugs; and that
for such analyses Dr. Tidy be paid at and after the following rate, viz.: for
the first one hundred cases, at the rate of a guinea for each analysis: for the
next fifty cases, at the rate of half-a-guinea for each analysis; and for any
number of subsequent cases during that period, at the rate of six shillings
for each case.
At the same meeting, Mr. Battram and Mr. Wrack, the Inspectors of
Nuisances for the District, were appointed Inspectors for the purposes of the
Adulteration of Food Act, 1872.
On the 6th October the Board resolved that Dr. Tidy be continued
in office as Public Analyst for the next twelve months.
The Inspectors report that, during Dr. Tidy's period of office, they have
submitted to him twenty-one samples of various articles of food to be
analysed; viz., 8 of bread, 12 of milk, and 1 of butter, all of which were
found to be more or less adulterated. In the six worst cases the Inspectors
took out summonses against the vendors. The two bakers, who had mixed
a large quantity of alum with their bread, were each fined £5, and £1 3s.
costs. In the case of the four dairymen who were summoned, two were
fined £2, and £1 3s. costs each, or 14 days' imprisonment; and the other
two were each fined £5, and four shillings costs, or 14 days' imprisonment.
In all these cases the fines were paid. I may add that summonses were
taken out by the Inspectors so soon as they received certificates from the
Analyst stating that the samples which he had analyzed were largely
adulterated.
Although it may be desirable to amend some of the sections in this Act,
it cannot be said to be inoperative in this District, as convictions have been
obtained in every case which was taken before the Magistrates.
As the tables printed on the next page may be interesting to some of the
inhabitants of this district, I have thought it advisable to add them to this
report.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
15, Great Alie Street. JOHN LIDDLE.