ARSENIC IN FOODSTUFF

Evening Star, Issue 16624, 5 January 1918, Page 4

ARSENIC IN FOODSTUFF

<. . GRAVE ALLEGATIONS IN ENGLAND. Serious statements are made in the annual report of tho 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 that a sample '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., onehundredth of a grain of arsenic per pound(l.4s 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 were clearly excessive, reaching as much as 400 parts of arsenic per million. It was found to be a common practice of manufacturers to dispose of acid phosphate which had turned out on their own analysis to be considerably contaminated, by mixing it with' another lot of the product which was free from or only slightly contaminated with arsenic. Stop 3 were taken at onee to put a stop to this " dangerous and reprehensible practice," as described by Dr MacFadden, and the undertakings given have been complied with.