A STARTLING REPORT

Lake County Press, Issue 976, 22 August 1901, Page 7

A STARTLING REPORT

A comprehensive report has been presented to the Queensland Government by the Health Commissioner on food preservatives and adulterated and unwholsome food. Dr Ham states that the Government analyst Las examined 123 samples of food, beverages, and drugs obtained from shops in Brisbane. Regarding milk Dr Ham says the use of formalin has grown to large proportions. The report states that the specific gravity of beers and stouts was much below the standard of good English ale .and stout. All samples of ale contained salicylic acid, and in the majority of instances two grains per gallon. Of the samples of wine tested, in the majority of cases there was more sugar than extract of grapes. Ten lots of ginger wine contained 112gr of salicylic acid to.the gallon. Regarding fruit syrups the report says:—“ They seem to be either entirely fictitious or loaded with preservatives which are a menace to health.” Thirty chests of tea had been ordered to be destroyed or immediately exported, and the latter course had beeen taken. Magnetic oxide of iron had been mixed with the tea. Dust and sand had been rolled by means of starch into little pellets of various sizes in imitation of genuine teas. The report recommends that the importation of liquids know'n as essences of whisky, brandy, rum, gin, and port wine should be prohibited, and the local manufacturers found using these essences should Ire prosecuted. The report states that a common method of making whisky is to dilute essence of whisky with proof spirit, and then artificially bead the mixture by adding sulphuric acid and oil. There were sixty samples of colored sugar confectionery examined, and all were found to contain aniline in excessive quantities.