PURITY OF FOOD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 174, 23 July 1907, Page 3

PURITY OF FOOD.

! THE NEW ACT.

ITS DEASTIC PROVISIONS.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary ' Reporter.)

Wellington, Monday.

The most important measure dealing with foods and drugs- which has ever been placed on the New Zealand statute book went through Parliament last week, and may therefore be said to have passed the worst ordeal of criticism and amendments, and to have every chance of becoming law. As a number of important amendments were made in the Pure Foods Bill during its passage through the House, a summary of its provisions will be of interest, especially seeing that they are destined to create a radical change in the nature of much of our' food and drink.

"Food," according to the bill,, is not merely that which we consume at our tables, but comprises every article which is used for fcfod or drink by man, or which enters into or is used in the composition or preparation of any such article, and also includes flavouring matters and condiments. This means that not only is the breakfast mutton chop liable to be seized for analysis if it is not already in a private house, but that the flavourings and sauces are also liable to have their claims to purity tested. The measure is called a "Pure Food Bill," but it also seems to cover drugs which are defined to include "medicine whether for internal or external purposes." So comprehensive is the definition of "food" that a confectioner who used a few drops of an impure flavouring essence in his sweetmeats would be liable to a penalty. Any person who believes he has been victimised by, say, the wooden nutmeg, or any form of adulteration of an article intended for human consumption, has a right, upon payment of the analyst's fee and the cost of the sample, to require any constable to purchase a portion of the article suspected to be impure or adulterated, and submit it for analysis.

Officers of the Health Department, or any constable authorised by the Chief Health Officer, have power to enter and inspect any place in which they have reasonable cause to believe food is intended for sale, and to seize any which appears to be unwholesome or deleterious to health. There is no power to enter a private house, but otherwise the officers' range of action is very wide, extending to butchers' or bakers' carts, and to the kitchen of a restaurant.

Where tie new bill breaks new ground is in its control over proprietary articles sold under particular brands, generally -well advertised. Many brands of tea, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, goap, and other commodities, for which there is a big sale, are often mixed with ingredients not specified on the label, but the new bill, with an important exception, requires "Bink's mustard" to be nothing but the product of the mustard seed if it is not to come under the ban of the Henuth Departent. If there has been a judicious introduction of flour, this must be confessed on the label, unless, and this is an important point for owners of popular proprietary articles the Government, by Order-in-Council, has exempted the particular brand from the operation of the Act. If "Bink's mustard" has been slightly adulterated, but is known to be a reliable article, the Governor may grant it exemption, and the.label need not confess that there ie a little flour in the compound. Most people prefer their T cqffee mised with chicory, and, under the new sub-clause introduced in committee, it will still be poesible for a manufacturer to sell a favourite coffee mixture including chicory without changing his present label.

Retailers who deal in food compounds are protected against prosecution for adulteration if they secure a warranty from the wholesale merchant. The latter in turn may rely on a warranty from the manufacturer, but no warranty given by a person residing outside the colony can be held to be a good defence to an action, unless the defendant proves that he had taken reasonable steps to ascertain, and did, in fact, believe, in the truth of the matters set forth in the warranty relied upon. Extensive powers are given to make regulations by Order-m-Council. These regulations may prescribe tfie standard of strength, -weight, quality, or quantity of any food or clrug, prohibit any obpectionable mode of manufacture, prescribe the mode and nature of labelling upon food or drug packages, and prohibit the sale of specified articles of food other than by 'weight.

The penalty for a breach of the Act is £50 or under. To give merchants an opportunity of disposing of stock in trade which, though complying with the present law, would not meet the stricter provisions of the Pure Foods Bill, a special clause enables them to sell any food or drug within 12 months of the Gazetting of regulations under the Act, even if they do not comply with it, so long as the articles were actually part of the merchant's stock in trade, or had been purchased by him before the Gazetting.

The measure has yet to pass the Legislative Council. It is intended to come into operation on January 1, 1908.