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quality of the article supplied, which was delivered over the counter in the usual
manner. In each case the material presented the appearance and consistence of
ordinary butter, and was fairly sweet and palatable. Each was divided into 3
portions according to Act of Parliament, and one portion of each sample was forwarded
to Dr. Tidy for analysis.
At the meeting of the Sanitary Committee following these proceedings one of
the tradesmen from whose shop a sample had been purchased presented himself,
and confessed that the article supplied to the Inspector was not butter, but was
what is known as "butterine." He also brought with him two tablets which he
said were displayed conspicuously in his shop, informing the public that "butterine"
sold at his establishment was such as was received from the wholesale dealers, and
that the quality could not be guaranteed. He also stated that he was, until recently,
in the habit of stamping the paper in which the "butter" was wrapped with a
notification to the same effect; this, however, had been neglected of late, but he
voluntarily promised that, for the future, such labelling of the article sold should be
invariably done.
The second tradesman has, I believe, made no sign.
Dr. Tidy's certificate, which I append, was received on the 24th of November, and
was read at the meeting of the Sanitary Committee on the following Wednesday.
In a private letter Dr. Tidy informs me that he had only examined one sample, that
marked XX, and that he did not consider it necessary to examine the other.
In Dr. Tidy's opinion, the sample submitted to him for analysis was composed
entirely of fat other than butter, but that it was not injurious; and that the sale of
the article, provided it be sold for what it is, is at the price a benefit, regarded
physiologically, to the poor.
Upon enquiry I find that there are several imitations of butter in the market,
which are supplied by the wholesale dealers to tradesmen; they are known by the
names of "Oleo-margarine," "Butterine," "Bosch," and "Hamboro' re-packs."
They mostly consist of purified animal fats (beef suet, bone fat, tallow, horse fat,
etc.), and are sometimes imported into England as Brittany or Normandy butter.
The flavour of the true article is produced by working up the fat with butter-milk,
and it is frequently somewhat difficult to distinguish the artificial from the true
butter.
Now, as Dr. Tidy says, if these articles are sold for what they really are, open
imitations of and substitutes for the true article, purchasers being informed that they
are not buying butter, but simply a cheap and wholesome substitute for it, no fraud
or offence against the Act of Parliament is committed, and there can be no possible
objection to the sale.
The Sanitary Committee, taking into consideration the opinion of the analyst, the
statements of the tradesman, and the price at which the article was sold, were of
opinion that no intentional fraud had been committed, and decided not to prosecute.
They considered that the case would be sufficiently met by a public statement of
the facts without going to the length of legal proceedings, and accordingly desired
me to present this report to the Vestry.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient Servant,
GEORGE PADDOCK BATE, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health."