OFFICIAL REGULATIONS. 407 



(6) That the use of any preservative or colouring-matter* 

 whatever in milk offered for sale in the United Kingdom be 

 constituted an offence under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts. 



(c) That the only preservative which it shall be lawful to use 

 in cream be boric acid, or mixtures of boric acid and borax, 

 and in amount not exceeding 0-25 per cent., expressed as boric 

 acid. The amount of such preservative to be notified by a label 

 upon the vessel. 



(d) That the only preservative permitted to be used in butter 

 and margarine be boric acid, or mixtures of boric acid and borax, 

 to be used in proportions not exceeding O5 per cent., expressed 

 as boric acid. 



(e) That in the case of all dietetic preparations intended for 

 the use of invalids or infants chemical preservatives of all kinds 

 be prohibited. 



The Local Government Board in 1906 issued a circular letter 

 to Local Authorities drawing their attention to the report of the 

 Departmental Committee, and expressing the opinion that 

 where preservatives were found prosecutions should be instituted 

 under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, and suggesting 0-005 per 

 cent, formaldehyde and 0-057 per cent, of boric acid as the 

 points at which injury to health was caused. 



In an appeal case at the Clerkenwell Sessions (Nov. 18, 1907), 

 it was held that cream containing 0-313 per cent, of boric acid 

 was injurious to the health of children, but not injurious to the 

 health of adults, and further that cream is a food for infants. 

 The fact that cream containing this amount of boric acid might 

 be injurious to invalids was held not to affect the question whether 

 it was injurious to health. 



Under the Cream Kegulations of the Local Government Board, 

 the use of boric acid is permitted in cream containing over 35 per 

 cent, of fat, provided that the quantity is notified on a label of 

 prescribed form and size ; 0-5 per cent, of boric acid is the quantity 

 usually declared on these labels. 



* The artificial colouring of milk was prohibited under the Defence of 

 the Realm Act 



