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128
BOROUGH OF PADDINGTON.
Besides the 33 samples of undoubtedly adulterated
milk, there were 15 other samples which were probably
adulterated, but not to an extent to warrant a prosecution.
Milk being the chief food of infants and invalids,
it is most important to ensure its purity.
Butter, this year, owing to the mildness of the
season, has been plentiful and cheap, hence there has
been little temptation to adulterate it. We therefore
find out of the 58 samples only 1 adulterated. That
contained 90 per cent. of margarine. It is very satisfactory
to find that, on the whole, Butter is far better
made now than some years ago. It is rare now to find
rancid and stale samples, such as were at one time sold
commonly.
Groceries, as a whole, keep very free from adulteration.
Only 4 out of the 59 samples proved to be
adulterated, giving an average of 6¾ per cent.
The more prominent articles amongst the Groceries
are :—
Coffee.—This continues to bo the most adulterated
amongst the groceries. Out of 36 samples 3, or 8¼
per cent., contained chicory in proportions ranging from
5 to 85 per cent.
Pepper.—01 11 samples, 1 contained 35 per cent.
of ground rice. At one time Pepper was more often
adulterated, olive stones being used as well as rice.
This of late years has been put a stop to by Analysts.