304 



Report on the Butter Trade. 



[AUG., 



butter is unsatisfactory in this respect, but it does not seem that 

 there are any adequate means in the present state of the law 

 of checking any abuse of preservatives that may arise. 



Butter Blending. — With regard to blended or factory butter,, 

 the Committee express the opinion that butter blending is a 

 legitimate industry, but the evidence showed that in some cases 

 water is added to factory butter ni the process of blending for 

 the purpose of increasing the weight, and recommendations 4 

 and 14 are directed to the prevention of this practice. 



The attention of the Committee was also called to the prac- 

 tice of blending foreign and Colonial butters in this country 

 and selling them under descriptions which lead the public to 

 suppose that they are home-made butters. This is a practice 

 which the Committee think undesirable, but it is one which will' 

 be checked under the existing law when efficient inspection is- 

 established. 



. Milk-blended Butter. — The Committee think it would not be 

 desirable to prohibit the manufacture or sale of the substance 

 known as milk-blended butter, as it appears that this substance 

 meets the wants or suits the tastes of a certain section of ths 

 community ; but they consider that it is not butter ; that it and' 

 other substances (not being margarine) containing butter fat 

 should only be allowed to be manufactured for sale under a 

 special name and regulations approved by the Board of Agricul- 

 ture and Fisheries ; and that when sold by retail it should' 

 be delivered to the purchaser in a wrapper, also approved by 

 the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. {^See recommenda- 

 tions 15, 16 and 17.) It would be necessary that factories 

 where this mixture is made, and the premises of wholesale 

 dealers who deal in it, should be registered, and that books 

 should be kept on these factories and premises by which con- 

 signments of this mixture could be traced to the retailer. 



Inspection of Factories. — In view of the evidence received as 

 to the adulteration of butter and the irregularities connected 

 with the sale of margarine, the Committee are convinced that 

 the law controlling the trade in butter and butter substitutes 

 requires amendment, and their recommendations on the subject 

 of the control and inspection of factories and other matters are 

 given above. 



