FOOD INSPECTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 192, 15 August 1925, Page 10

FOOD INSPECTION.

THE YEAR'S OPERATIONS,

A great variety of foodstuffs was forwarded to the Dominion analyst for inspection during the year ended March 31 last. The annual report of the Internal Affairs Department states that the examination of beer for the presence of arsenic was continued, but only one sample contained traces of the. metal, and the amount was considerably less ! than the limit imposed by the regulations. Butter was again frequently examined, and in three samples only was there a large excess of water. In three others the amount fdund was slightly over the standard of 16 per cent. Flour was obtained from the principal mills in the Dominion and tested for artificial bleaching agents, but in no case were any detected. Examination of samples of hop-beer and ginger-beer from all-.parts of New Zedland showed that it was a common practice, amounting almost to a trade custom, to add saccharin to such drinks. The practice had received a salutary check. A considerable amount of work was done on genuine and artificial extracts of vanilla. The analytical differences were quite marked, and manufacturers of the genuine "extract had no need to fear genuine competition from artificial preparations. The use of artificial colours in foodstuffs appeared to be under better control than formerly; land labelling regulations were complied with, to a much greater extent.