FOOD PRESERVATIVES.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18332, 16 March 1925, Page 2

FOOD PRESERVATIVES.

DANGER OF BORIC ACID. (FBOM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) ' LONDON, January 29; While the drafting of the regulations which will control the use of preservatives in food is well advanced at thb Ministry of Health, a point with regard to imported butter may result in somo modification in carrying out t*he recommendations of the Committee which reported on the whole question. It has been submitted to the Ministry of Health, that the total prohibition of the use of boric acid in butter would seriously hamper the importation of butter from New Zealand and Australia, where butter frequently has to travel some distance before it can be put into cold storage. The fear has been expressed by the trade that the reduction of such supplies might increase butter prices in this country. A serious warning against the dangers of the use of boric acid as a preservative in food was uttered by Professor W. E. Dixon, speaking as a member of a deputation from,the People's League of Health to the Minister of Health. Professor Dixon said he drew attention to the question of boric acid as a food preservative certain medical men Had suggested in the public Press, whether for altruistic or for trade reasons he did not know, that this was a relatively harmless substance, which might be partaken of indefinitely with impunity. He regarded boric acid as the most popular of all food preservatives owing to the absence of distinctive odour and taste. He defined poisons as substances which in large, doses caused death and in small continuous doses were inimical to health; boric aeid fulfilled these conditions. Half a gramme of boric acid had no immediate action on healthy people, but if this dose were continued daily for a long period, digestion was deranged, and absorption of fat and nitrogen was diminished, and weight lost. Indeed, boric acid had certain properties which might recommend it under special conditions as an "anti-fat." This dose,,half a gramme daily, might very easily be reached by a man who partook freely of.most foods. It should also be remembered that one single dose of boric acid was not excreted by the body completely for five days, so that it was not too much to: say that from childhood onwards the people of this country .were never free from this substance. If normal individuals could be detrimentally affected, how much more important was this in the case of children and patients suffering from alimentary and renal troubles? Experiments on animals had shown that the continuous administration of boric acid led t6 severe kidney disease.

SCHOOL OF ART SKETCH CLUB. ■ ♦- .. The School of Art. Sketch, Club held its annual meeting, oh Saturday evening in the school. .Misss M. O. Stoddart presided. The annual report stated that during the past year seven successful exhibitions and two social evenings were held, which 540 pictures were submitted \for criticism. \ ■ A syllabus of subjects for the ensuing year was drawn up, and a special prize is to be awarded the best work . at each show. Arrangements are in hand for the next exhibition. A progressive programme has been, scheduled arid greater activities are to be undertaken. The following officers were elected:. Hon. .life member,. Mr Sydney L. Thompson; vice-presidents, Messrs Archibald Nicoll, Merizies Gibb and Professor J. Shellcv; president, Mrs'R. ' Walhvovk; vice-president, Miss M. 0. Stoddart; secretary and treasurer, Mr A. E. Wildey; council, Mrs Claude Sawtell, Misses T. Beswick, G. Anderson, C. A.' Ellis, O. Spencer-Bower, Messrs J. Cook, A. Hipwell and B. Clarke. ■