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40
Analytical Laboratory,
Vestry Hall, Harrow Road, W.,
Jan. 24th, 1889.
To the Vestry of the Parish of St. Matthew, Bethnal Green.
Chairman and Gentlemen,
The last case of prosecution for adulteration has j ust
been concluded, so that I am now able to present to you my Report for
the Quarter ending December 25th, 1888. During that period I have
received from your Inspectors 31 samples of food, consisting of Milk
19 samples; Butter, 6; and Lard, 6. Of these, 3 samples of Milk
and 1 of Butter were adulterated. The adulteration of the Milk
consisted in the addition of from 22 to 35 per cent. of water. In all
these cases prosecutions woro undertaken and fines of £3, £4, and £4
were imposed. The sample of Butter was, on purchase, acknowledged
to be Margarine, but it was exposed for sale without the label
demanded by law, henee proceedings were taken under the Margarine
Act, when the sample was found to consist principally of beef fat; a
conviction was obtained, and a fine of £2 was imposed.
That fewer samples of Milk were found adulterated this Quarter
than usual, is mainly due, I think, to the plentifulness and consequent
cheapness of Milk during this winter.
The sum of £13 for fines during the Quarter has been ordered to be
paid into the Yestry's account.
Reviewing the analytical work of the whole year 1888, we find that
altogether 151 samples of food have been examined. These consisted
of Milk, 106 samples; Pepper, 14; Mustard, 12; Ices, 7; Butter, 6;
and Lard, 6. Of these, 14 Milks, 4 Peppers, 2 Mustards, and 1 Butter
were adulterated. None of the samples of Lard or of Ice Cream were
adulterated.
The per centage of adulteration on the whole of the articles for 1888
is 14; this is the general average found throughout London, and is a
great decrease on that of the previous year, when in this Parish 37
per cent. proved to be adulterated.