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The Draft Rules and Orders, Public Health (Preservatives, &c, in Food)
Proposed Regulations, 1925, prohibit the addition of salicylic acid but allow a
maximum of 5 grains benzoic acid per pint in non-alcoholic wines
Spirits
Six samples were examined One sample of brandy was found to
contain 225 per cent, excess water, the remainder were genuine, being either
35 degrees under proof or of the strength declared when the sample was
purchased
F 46 Brandy, 225 per cent, excess water Vendor paid £5 5s costs
The position with regard to the adulteration of spirits is still unsatisfactory,
In a recent High Court decision, it was held that the notice "All spirits
sold on this establishment are diluted and no alcoholic strength is guaranteed"
could not be accepted as a protection The sample in this case was 4226
degrees under proof (equal to 11*7 per cent, excess water)
In a later case at Bow Street Police Court where the sample of whisky
was 48 degrees under proof (equal to 20 per cent, excess water) and a similar
notice was displayed, it was held that the notice afforded protection as the
defendant had not sold the spirit at an unreasonable degree of dilution as was
shown by the price
It is not possible for the purchaser to know whether the price paid is a
reasonable one as the degree of dilution cannot be ascertained and definite
statements as to the number of degrees under proof to which the spirit has
been reduced are often without meaning to the purchaser
Draft Rules and Orders of the Public Health,
(Preservatives, &c, in Food) Regulations, 1925,
Proposed to be made by the Minister of Health
Briefly, these Regulations contain the following provisions:—
(1) No cream to contain any thickening substance
(2) No article of food to contain any added preservative except:—
(a) Sulphur Dioxide (in seven classes of food)
(b) Benzoic Acid (in three classes of food)
(3) No article of food to contain both Sulphur Dioxide and Benzoic
Acid
(4) Permitted preserved foods to be labelled
(5) Permitted preservatives to be labelled
(6) The use of certain metallic, vegetable and coal tar colouring
matters, to be prohibited