ARSENIC IN FOODSTUFF

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 84, 2 January 1918, Page 8

ARSENIC IN FOODSTUFF

GRAVE ALLEGATIONS IN ENGLAND. Serious statements are made in the annual report of the Local Government Board by Dr. MacFadden, of the British Food Inspection Department, as to the discovery of arsenic in such preparations as baking powder, self-raising flour, and egg powder, in which impure acid phosphate of calcium had been used as one of the ingredients. It was reported to the Department last year tliat a sanrole of baking powder sent with a tender for War Office supplies had been found to contain 32 parts of arsenic per million. As the limit laid down by the Royal Commission on Arsenical Poisoning, viz., one-hun-dredth of a grain of arsenic per pound (1.4« parts per million), was greatly exceeded, public analysts were asked to examine samples of the preparations in their districts. According to the reports of the public analysts, the majority of the cases tested did not call for special attention. In 50 cases, however, the amounts of arsenic reported weie clearly excessive, reaching as nnich as 400 parts of arsenic per million. It was found to bo a common practice of manufacturers to dispose of acid phosphate which had turned out on their own imnlvsis to be considerably contaminated, by mixing it w-ith another lot of tho product which was free from or only slightly contaminated with arsenic. Steps were taken at onoo to put a stop to this "dangerous and iepreliensiblo practice/' as described by Dr. MacFadden, and the undertakings given have been complied with.