SURPLUS MOISTURE IN BUTTER

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1408, 8 April 1912, Page 8

SURPLUS MOISTURE IN BUTTER

THE LAW IN DENMAEK

Since England fixed the standard of 16 per cent, of moisture in butter as a maximum (writes Mr. C. Pedersen, dairv instruetor) some trouble has been caused not only in Australia, but in other countries, and particularly in Denmark. In a Danish paper just to hand, three cases ore mentioned .luring the month of January last as having contained excess moisture.

I'he difference in dealing with the offenders in Denmark and here is marked, and it is. jiisf-.as well for some of our lactones that (hev arc situated iu Australia and not in Denmark, for not onlv were the threo factories fined (but as the paper puts it): tho "illegal" butters were confiscated for having been packed in kicis bearing the Liirbrand. The Lurbrand is a national brand protected bv patent, and every Danish butter package is firebranded with the Lurbrand. All butters packed in Idols bearing the Lurbrand must ho butters within the standard as laid down by law. ." . ' '

■ The law governing the Danish dairying industry is vested in . the Minister' for Agriculture, and to show the power a Minister has it will be necessary onlv to quote regulation 10 in the Act. vizt:'"ln case a factory trade coutrarv to the Act or' to the regulations laid down by the Act, the Minister has tho power to prevent any offending factory from making use of the Lurbrand. and can through the polite take possession of Ihe balance of articles in the factory bearing the Lurbrand."" - V Very few butters have come forward ,wi(h excess of moisture, and the strictures will no doubt make the factories careful, Considering these butters were made during one of the coldest months, it could not be from want of cooling power, which may in many instances be the case with us, and must he put down to carelessness, and that may be how the Minister looked ■at tin! and hence the extreme fine.