1909.] 



Adulteration of Cream. 



669 



the Official Agricultural Analyst relating to a sample which has been 

 divided into parts, in accordance with Section 3 (3) of the Fertilisers 

 and Feeding" Stuffs Act, 1906, does not contain the words "The 

 analysis was made in accordance with the Fertilisers and Feeding 

 Stuffs (Methods of Analysis) Regulations, 1908," as required by Regu- 

 lation No. 6 of those Regulations. 



The Board are advised that the omission of these words from the 

 certificate might cause the failure of a prosecution under the Act. 



I am, therefore, directed by the Board to ask you to be good enough 

 to call the attention of the Official Agricultural Analyst for the district 

 of your Local Authority to the necessity for following the prescribed 

 methods of analysis in analysing samples sent to him in duplicate, and 

 for inserting in certificates relating to such samples the statement 

 referred to above. 



I am, &c, 



T. H. Elliott, 



Secretary. 



The Board have addressed the following circular, dated October 1st, 

 1909, to Local Authorities in Great Britain, on the subject of the 

 adulteration of cream : — 



Adulteration^ of Sir, — 



Cream. I am directed by the Board of Agricul- 



ture and Fisheries to send you the following 

 information as to the adulteration of cream which they think may 

 be of use to the officers of your Local Authority engaged in the execu- 

 tion of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts. 



A sample of an article apparently intended to increase the weight or 

 bulk of the cream was recently purchased for one of the Board's officers 

 and submitted to the Principal Chemist of the Government Laboratory. 

 The report of the Principal Chemist on this sample is as follows : — 

 "The examination of the sample gives the following results: — 

 Water ... ... ... ... ... 83*46 per cent. 



Proteins 11 '90 ,, ,, 



Lactose i'55 ,, 



Milk fat i m 26 ,, 



Mineral matter i'28 ,, 



Boric acid 0*30 ,, ,, 



"The substance would appear to consist of some form of albu- 

 minoid matter which has been worked into an emulsion with milk and 

 water. When received, the substance was thick and pasty, but in the 

 course of two days it became decomposed, and was then of the con- 

 sistency of thin cream. 



"Cream to which this substance has been added is undoubtedly 

 adulterated, and although the material does not appear to give any 

 distinctive reaction, its detection in cream is not difficult if regard is 

 had to the ratio between the non-fatty solids and fat, and particularly 

 to the proportion of proteins in the non-fatty solids." 



Two other substances apparently intended to be used for concealing 

 the inferior quality of poor cream have also been recently procured by 



