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Analgtical Laboratory,
Vestry Hall, Harrow Road, W.
April 14th, 1890.
To the Vestry of the Parish of SL Matthew, Bethnal Green.
Chairman and Gentlemen,
During the quarter ending March 2.5th, 1890, I have
received from your Inspectors 41 samples of food. These consisted
of—Milk, 34 samples, Butter, 4, and Coffee 3. Of these, 13 samples
of Milk and 1 sample of Butter wore adulterated All the samples of
Coffee were genuine and of good quality. The adulterated sample of
Butter was made up entirely of beef-fat, curds, water, and salt. .
Unluckily the vendor could not be prosecuted, owing to the Inspector
who purchased the sample having to leave the service of the Vestry;
this applies also to a sample of adulterated Milk purchased by him.
In two other cases the Officers of the Court omitted to give seven
days' clear notice of date of hearing to the vendor, hence the summonses
had to be dismissed.
In all the other cases prosecutions were successfully undertaken,
and fines for the dilution of Milk with water, varying from 10 to 30
percent., were imposed. These lines ranged from 10s. to £15, and
were certainly more adapted to the gravities of tho offence than they
used to be.
A notable instance of the penalty of adulteration was given in the
case of tho "Farmers' Direct Supply Association." From outside the
Parish they flood the district with milk-trollies containing skim milk.
This is sold as genuine whole milk at a low price, thus underselling
those who reside in the Parish and who sell a genuine article. Two
samples of this were taken, and were found in the one case to have
been deprived of 60 percent. of the cream; and in the other case to
have been deprived of 33 percent. of its croam, as well as watered to
tho extent of 10 porcent.
In tho first case a fino of £15 was imposed. In the second case,
Mr. Weston took out two summonses, one for the watering, and one
for the skimming of the sample. The case was strenuously fought
by tho solicitor of tho defendant, but by the able conduct of the case
by Mr. Weston, both summonses were uphold, and a tine of £5 for
abstracting cream and £2 for watering the same sample were imposed;
so that tho total of fines for that vendor amounted to £22.
No less than 38 percent. of the samples of Milk prove to be
adulterated this quarter. The fines ordered to be paid into the
Vestry's account amount to £59 10s. Od.
I remain your obedient Servant,
ALF. W. STOKES, F.C.S., F.I.C.,
Public Analyst,