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43
Analytical Laboratory
Vestry Hall, Harrow Road, W.,
April 4th, 1889.
To the Yestry of the Parish of St. Matthew, Bethnal Green.
Chairman and Gentlemen,
During the quarter ending March 25th, 1889, I have
received from your Inspectors 42 samples of food for analysis. These
consisted entirely of Milk, of which 15 samples, or 35| per cent., were
adulterated.
The adulteration consisted in the addition of from 7 to 30 per cent,
of water, one sample being also slightly skimmed. The vendors of
these were in all cases summoned for adulteration, and fines have, in
all cases but one, been imposed. In this one case the summons has
been adjourned for further evidence.
In three of the cases of adulteration the Milk was supplied by a
country farmer. At the instance of a member of the Sanitary Committee,
samples of this Milk were taken when it was delivered at
Cambridge Heath Station, on three different days. In every instance
water, from 11 to 21 per cent., was found to have been added. Fines
amounting to £7 and costs were imposed on this wholesale vendor.
Here good work has been done, since small London dealers buying
from such a supplier might innocently have been accused of diluting
the Milk; or a fraudulent dealer, not knowing that the Milk was
already watered, might add some more, and make the article poor
indeed. It is, therefore, specially advisable to stop this wholesale
adulteration of Milk at the fountain-head.
Besides the 15 really adulterated samples of Milk, 10 samples were
of poor quality, and 6 samples contained added cream, leaving only 11
samples of fair average quality Milk out of the 42. The added-cream
samples were those where the vendor either keeps a special can of Milk
for suspicious or chance customers, which contains an extra amount
of cream, or else the measure is merely dipped below the surface of the
ordinary can, so as to take off a large proportion of the cream that
may be floating on the top. Such samples are of course suspicious,
and they leave a poorer article for those coming after.
The sum of £25 for fines has so far been ordered to be paid into tho
Vestry's account this quarter.
Appending a tabulated statement showing the analysis of each
sample,
I remain your obedient Servant,
ALF. W. STOKES, F.C.S., F.I.C.,
Public Analyst.