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80
The quantity of fat removed varied from 5.3 to 26.0
per cent., the addition of water from 3.2 to 13.3 per cent.
The two samples to which boracic acid had been added
contained respectively 37.5 and 60.7 grains per gallon.
Boracic acid is used as a preservative.
During the year the Chemists of the Government
Laboratory have given up the use of their old standard
(2.75 per cent.) for fat in milk, and have adopted that
recommended some years ago by the Society of Public
Analysts, namely 3.0 per cent., thus coming into line with
the great majority of Public Analysts.
As the Board are aware, the new Sale of Food and
Drugs Act came into operation on the 1st of January last.
By section 4 of this Act the Board of Agriculture are empowed
to make regulations determining the standard to be
adopted in regard to the composition of Milk, Cream,
Butter and Cheese. As a first step a committee has been
appointed by the Board of Agriculture, and is now engaged
in collecting evidence upon the subject.
A departmental committee appointed by the Looal
Goverment Board is also considering the important question
of the addition of preservatives and colouring matters to
articles of food. At the present time there is much difference
of opinion amongst chemists as to the injurious
character or otherwise of many of the substances now in
use.
Cream.
The whole of the samples of Cream were certified to
be adulterated, as Boracic Acid was found to be present
in every one, the quantity varying from 9.31 to 63.14 grains
per lb.