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71
SALE OF FOOD, &c., ACTS.
The following is a lint of the article.purchased by the
Inspector and submitted to the Public Analyst, appointed by
the Vestry, during the year:—
Coffee
19
Cream 1
Milk 48
Mustard 4
71
Four of these samples (2 milk and 2 coffee) proved to
bo adulterated, and proceedings were taken and a fine
inflicted in each case. Five samples of milk were so poor in
quality as to raise a suspicion of adulteration, but as the
analyst was not prepared to positively assert that such milk
might not bo yielded by cows under certain conditions, no
action was taken beyond calling the attention of the vendors
to the result of the analysis.
As usual, most attention has been devoted to the examination
of milk, to secure the purity which, as a diet of universal
consumption, seems to be of the highest moment. As affecting
young children especially, who are largely dependent upon
the quality of this article for healthy growth, the adulteration
of milk is not only a fraud upon its parrhaser but may
seriously affect the future well-being of the chil d. It is
therefore satisfactory to note that the proportion of
adulterated samples to the total number purchased was
smaller last year than at any previous time since the Acts were
put in force in St. James's.
As some misapprehension appears to exist with regard to
the sale of coffee and chicory, and mixtures of a similar des¥
cription, it may be pointed out that the object of the
ture is evidently to afford purchasersan opportunity of