NO ALARM

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 54, 28 November 1923, Page 10

NO ALARM

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER

QUESTION OF PRESERVATIVES

GOVERNMENT’S ASSURANCE

No alarm should be caused by the cablegram published from Jxmdon in yesterday’s papers in regard to tbc proposel to abolish the use of boric acid to preserve butter, according to a statement issued by the Govcrnn.ent.

The cablegram referred to the investigation of a committee appointed by the British Minister of Health into the use of preservatives in food, and it was suggested that There was a possibility that the committee Wight recommend the prohibition of the use of boric acid to preserve butter. “There is nothing in this announcement which should causo alarm in New Zealand,” declared the Director of the Dairy Division of the "Department of when approached. “Many of our dairy companies are using no preservatives in the butter they manufacture, and ainougst these arc the names of companies whose produce grades amongst the highest in the Dominion. While dairy companies which have been using preservatives may have added i_p to onehalf per cent., it has been found that, as a rule, a much lesser percentage remains in the butter, as a considerable i»rtion"liad been lost in the working. The percentage usually retained is so small that frequently any good effect iresulting therefrom! has been questioned The number of dairy companies voluntarily discontinuing the usie of preservatives in butter is increasing year by year. The pasteurisation of the cream appears to bo sufficient for the ensuring of a good keeping butter from cream of average quality. “It is well known that, under the United States law of many years’ standing, no butter that has teen made with tho assistance of. preservative may be imported into America. Yet last year New Zealand exported butter to the United States to the value of approximately £500,000.” Mr. Singleton added that, among representative dairy companies from Hokianga to) Invercargill that had already done away with the use of preservatives in the manufacture of butter, were, those of Hokianga, HeL cnsville, Oniru, and Whangaiei (North Auckland), Kati Kati (South Auckland), Cambridge (Waikato), Ray of Plenty, Aria,. Pio Pio (King Country), Inglewood," Midhirst, Oniata (Thranaki), Waipukurau (Hawke’s l!av), Wanganui, Masterton, Cambridge, Tai Tapu, Avon, Kiwi- (North Canterbury), Ashburton, Waimate (South Canterbury), Owaka (Otago), Waitaki, Gore, N.Z. Milk Predicts (Southland).