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64
him from the country. A wholesale dealer, subpoenaed by
the Council, proved that the defendant had had from his firm
during the preceding month 12½ cwt. of margarine, all of
which had doubtless been sold as butter, and he was fined
£17 and £3 3s. costs.
Thirteen samples of tinned foods purchased informally
were pronounced by the Analyst to be of good quality. Nine
were quite free from preservatives, and in 4 small quantities
of boric acid were present, the amount varying from 3 to 7
grains to the pound.
The Council resolved to inform the Local Government
Board that they approved of the resolution passed by the
Metropolitan Branch of the Society of Medical Officers of
Health, which was as follows:—
" That it is necessary in order to secure better protection
for the public in regard to tinned and preserved foods that
legislation should be passed embodying the following important
reforms:—
1. The name and address of the manufacturer, and the
date of canning, shall be impressed on the cans.
2. It shall be unlawful to sell for any purpose canned
goods that are unfit for human consumption, and it
shall be the duty of any person in possession of unsound
canned foods to notify and surrender same to
the local authority, who shall destroy such unsound
food free of charge.
3. A certain number of tins (say one per cent.) from each
consignment shall be opened on importation and the
contents examined under the supervision or instructions
of the Sanitary Authority concerned, prior to
such canned foods being placed on the market.
4. Tins which are known in the trade as " doubtfuls "
shall be deemed to be unfit for human consumption.
5. Food intended for canning shall be inspected by
pendent officials prior to being canned, and all foods
shall be canned under strictly hygienic conditions,