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29
Analytical Laboratory,
Vestry Hall, Harrow Road, W.,
November 30th, 1885.
To the Vestry of the Parish of St. Matthew, Bethnal Green.
Chairman and Gentlemen,—Now that the various prosecutions
for adulteration during the quarter ending September 29th are finished,
I am able to present to you my Quarterly Report. There has been
submitted to me for analysis a total of 27 samples of food. Of these,
16 were samples of Milk, and 11 were samples of Butter. No less than
II of the Milk samples were adulterated by the addition of from 7 up
to 40 per cent. of water. Prosecutions were undertaken against 9 of
the vendors of these adulterated milks, and fines ranging from £2 to £5
were imposed. In 2 cases in which the watering was but slight no
proceedings were taken.
If these are fair specimens of the milk supplied to the parish it is
exceedingly unsatisfactory to find that upwards of 73 per cent. of the
milk samples are adulterated, and that on an average with 24 per cent.
of added water. The chances of obtaining a pure sample seem to be
very small.
In the case of the Butter samples, 4 out of the 11 contained beef-fat,
in two of them there was no butter present at all. The vendors of these
adulterated samples were summoned, and in three cases convictions
were obtained. In the fourth case the defendant declared that the
purchaser asked for Butterine, on this exceedingly unlikely, as well as
false plea, the vendor got off.
A case of adulterated Milk No. 1/31 which was not concluded in the
previous quarter was finished in this, the vendor being fined £3 and
costs.
A total of £36 10s. for fines has been paid into the Vestry's account
during the quarter.
Appending a tabulated account of each separate analysis,
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
ALF. W. STOKES,
Public Analyst.