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120
For instance, under the Sale of Food Order, 1921, made by
the Board of Trade, standards were fixed as regards the comiposition
of jam, marmalade, and the composition of dripping,
margarine, and the edible fats.
Circular 225, from the Ministry of Health, accompanying
the order stated:—
"The Minister is aware that in the past local authorities
have occasionally experienced difficulties in dealing with
cases of excessive water in dripping, lard substitutes, etc.,
and it is hoped that the present Order by specifying a definite
maximum percentage, will assist in the removal of these
difficulties. Similarly, the provisions of the Order prescribing
a standard of composition for jam and marmalade
will be found useful."
Unfortunately the parts of that Order relating to the
standards for these foodstuffs were within a few months
revoked, but it cannot be denied that standards on which proceedings
could be successfully taken are required as regards most
of the common articles of diet. In my report for last year it
will be seen that one sample of coffee, three of dripping, four
of malt vinegar, and one of vinegar were, in the opinion of
the Analyst, adulterated, but the difficulty of obtaining convictions
in these cases is so great that sampling is almost a useless
proceeding. Briefly the state of affairs is most unsatisfactory
as regards:—
Contamination of food during preparation for sale,
Addition of Preservatives,
Absence of standards as regards adulteration.