Report of the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into the use of preservatives and colouring matters in the preservation and colouring of food : together with minutes of evidence, appendices and index.
- Great Britain. Committee on Food Preservatives.
- Date:
- 1901
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Report of the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into the use of preservatives and colouring matters in the preservation and colouring of food : together with minutes of evidence, appendices and index. Source: Wellcome Collection.
23/548
![[ liked 7] acid. A later report showed that 13°5 per cent. of the milk samples contained boric acid, in amounts varying from 7 to 14 grains per quart. Of the samples of butter, 44°5 per cent. contained boric acid, in one case to the extent of 71:4 grains per lb. 54, Dr. William Williams, Medical Officer of Health to the Glamorgan County Council, who appeared on behalf of the Incorporated Society of Medical Officers of Health, informed the Committee that the Glamorganshire County Council had taken considerable action in regard to boric preser- vatives, especially in milk and butter. The Local Government Committee of the County Council issued a notice to milk-vendors throughout the administrative county prohibiting the addition to milk of boric acid and analogous preservatives. With respect to butter, it was recommended that in all cases where the admixture of boric acid exceeded 0°5 per cent.—that is, 35 grains per lb., which was double what his Committee was advised was sufficient as a preservative—that prosecution should be instituted. In consequence of this action the proportion of milks containing boron preservative sold throughout the county is very small. Thus in 1897, out of 332 samples examined only 11, or 3°3 per cent., were found to contain boric acid. Prosecutions followed, and in the next year out of 379 samples examined only 3, or 0°8 per cent., were found to contain boric acid. During the first nine months of 1899, out of 265 samples 3 cases of boric acid, or 1:1 per cent., were detected. As much as 210 grains of boric acid per gallon was found on one occasion, in another 140 grains, and in a third 91 grains; in the other cases the amount ranged from 134 to 56 grains. The action of the County Council had the result also of gradually reducing the amount of boracised butter sold throughout the district. Thus in 1897, out of 82 samples, 37, or 45:1 per cent., were found to contain boric acid in amounts varying from one or two grains up to 112 grains per lb. Prose- cutions followed in a number of instances, with the result that in the next year the ratio of “preserved” butters fell to 34:1 per cent., and in 1899 to 26°5 per cent. In no case during 1899 was the amount of boric acid in excess of 35 grains per lb. 55. In other parts of the country preservatives seem to be employed to a much greater extent, depending apparently upon the attitude of the Local Authority towards their use. Thus as regards Leeds, Dr. Cameron, appearance before the Committee, out of 49 samples of milk examined by the Public Analyst, 25, or 51 per cent., contained boric compounds of some kind. Mr. Brierley, Public Analyst for the County Borough of Southampton and for the Borough of Newbury, said that the ordinary practice in the neighbourhood of the borough of Southampton was, in the summer months, to take one pound of the preparation (boron preservative), dissolve it in one gallon of water, and add one pint of the solution to eight gallons of the milk. This is equivalent to about 100 grains of the substance to the gallon, or a little over 12 grains to the pint. ‘m Hampshire this addition of pre- servatives is done mainly by the large wholesale dealers, and the practice is increasing. “It is more difficult in the summer months to get samples that are free from these preservatives than it used to be.” ‘ Both formalin and boracic acid preparations are being increasingly used.” The printed state- ments as to the amounts to be used are not always followed. ‘There are agents for the makers who go about and canvass for customers, and they give them information on their own account, which is not the prescribed -amount.” ‘In Southampton there are chemists who are selling boric acid pure and simple, without any instructions whatever to these people, for the purpose of adding to milk. It is sold to farmers in that way.” Mr. W. F. Lowe, Public Analyst for the Counties of Flint, Carnarvon, Anglesey, and Denbigh, and for the City of Chester, also testified to the frequent presence of boric acid in milk, cream, and butter. In butter he had found it to the extent of from & up to 50 grains per lb.,and in milk and cream from 6 to 20 grains per pint. (Appendix XVI.) 4687. e Walford, 1841-42. Williams, 2111]. Williams, 2129. Wilhams, 2137-38. Appendix XIV. Cameron, 2528. Brierley, 31 74. Brierley, 3208, 3216, Brierley, 3214.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b3217228x_0023.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
