Report on the Butter Trade. 



[AUG., 



The nature of the declaration made should in all cases be 

 .carefully recorded by the officer taking the sample, and should 

 also be reported to the analyst when the sample is transmitted 

 for analysis. 



Where preservatives are reported in milk thus sold, the 

 question will arise whether, in view of the nature and quantity 

 .of the preservatives added, it can be considered that the article 

 has been rendered injurious to health, or that the purchaser has 

 been prejudiced, to an extent which would justify the institution 

 of proceedings under Section 3 or Section 6 of the Sale of 

 Food and Drugs Act, 1875, notwithstanding the declaration 

 •made at the time of purchase. 



This question is not without difficulty in view of the general 

 objection to the employment of any preservatives in milk 

 referred to above. 



As regards formalin and boron preservatives, however, the 

 Board are advised that the presence in milk of formalin to an 

 amount which is ascertained by examination within tJiree days of 

 collecting the sample to exceed i part in 40,000 (i part in 

 100,000 of formic aldehyde) raises a strong presumption that 

 the article has been rendered injurious to health, and that the 

 purchaser has been prejudiced, in the above sense ; and also 

 that similar presumption is raised where boron preservatives are 

 present in milk to an amount exceeding 57 parts of boric acid 

 per 100,000, or 40 grains of boric acid per gallon. 



It appears desirable that the addition of preservatives to skim 

 imiik, separated milk, and condensed milk, should be watched 

 and controlled on similar lines. — I am, &c., 



S. B. Provis, Secretary. 



.The Select Committee of the House of Commons appointed 



.on the 5th March, 1906, to consider whether any, and if so what, 



n X * further legislation is required in order to 



Report of the ^ , ^ , , , 



Select Committee secure the better conduct and control ot 



on the Butter the trade in butter and butter substitutes, 



have now presented their Report (H.C. 245. 



Price 4d.), in which after discussing the evidence which has 



been placed before them, they make the following recommen- 



.dations : — 



