"BUTTER FAKING."

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 218, 14 September 1908, Page 3

"BUTTER FAKING."

A GROWING EVIL

STEPS TO COMBAT IT

The unscrupulous tactics of the "butter faking ring"' in the Old Country, which have had such a prejudicial effect upon the butter trade of New Zealand and Australia, have

been frequently exposed in these columns, and the Government of New Zealand has done what it could to ensure the local article reaching the table of the Home consumer m its exported state. The checking of these iniquitous practices has, however, been rendered extremely difficult by the lack of co-operation to that end by English traders. It is all very well for the New Zealand and Australian Governments to pass legislation at this side of the world to protect the efforts are almost completely frustrated by the iniquitous manipulation of the "butter faking ring in the Old Country, whose operations have considerably prejudiced the colonial butter market to the great benefit of Danish butter. It is, therefore, satisfactory to learn that the tardy conscience of the British merchant has been aroused by the increasing amount of raked butter now foisted on the English market, and some of the grocers associations and leading merchants are now denouncing the practi&e. Amongst other steps taken recently m the crusade against butter .faking m England, was tlie issue of'a paper on the subject by Mr L. "Wilson, buyer for the Co-operative Wholesale Society at Manchester.-•■■Mr Wilson says: —

There has been for many years a certain amount of dishonesty in the trade, but- it has now become of such proportions that it is very difficult to estimate what percentage of butter is pure and what is adulterated. This year, since July, there has been a scarcity of butter, and valueshave ruled higher than for many years. This has been the "faker's" opportunity, and he has foisted upon the market impure^ butter at prices thafc have returned him fabulous profits. The methods are most scientific and ingenious, and elaborate machinery has been manufactured for the purpose of working the compounds. Danish butter has been too dear to experiment with, so the qualities they have had recourse to have generally been colonials or the cheaper sorts. New Zealand, Australian, Argentine, and Siberian are recognised "by the trade as butter that contains the least percentage of moisture, and this has aided the manipulators considerably, as by reducing the percentage of' butter-fat they have been enabled to insert about 25 per cent, of various- ingredients, such as neutral fats, lard, cocoanut oil, caseinc, and vegetable oils: This _ combination,1 which lessens the' nutritive value of •the butter, costs less that _2d per Ib, and leaves the "fsfker" with a rich harvest.

Experiments that have been made by oxperts go to prove that from 10s to 255, per cwt (or Id to 23d per lb) can be made out of manipulated butter, and the process is so subtle that analysts in many instances cannot detect the fraud.

How, then, can the public bo protected? Only by legislation, and by having all blending-houses registered, and fully-qualified inspectors appointed to test all the productions; also to sea that all packages are legibly branded, stating if "pure" or "blended." Another method of deceiving the miblie is the speciously-worded milkblehded concoction. As everyone knows, butter is made from the cream extracted 'from milk. Why. then, should it afterwards be blended with milk? It is practically adding so much water, as the constituent parts of milk include 85 per cent, of water. The startling array- of facts. and figures in Mr Wilson's paper should do much to arouse the British public to support the campaign against the "butter-fakers," who, .-rendered insolent by success, are increasing their operations to an unheard of extent. The Co-operative Society has, set its face against faked butter, and now guarantees that all the butter sold ,at its stores is absolutely pure.. The Now Zealand and Australian butter retailed by the society is the pure and unadulterated article, which can hold its own with any in the world. It.is to be hoped that the English society's good example in this respect will be followed by other Home firms.