NEW ZEALAND BUTTER IN AMERICA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 4 March 1914, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER IN AMERICA

. USE OF -PEESEBVATIVES, TWO SHIPMENTS CONDEMNED. (United Pbbss Association.) Auckland, March 3. The strict prohibition against the use of preservatives in t>utter enforced by. the Federal Food and Drugs Department, under the law of ' ths United States, recently caused the condemnation of- two consignments of New Zealand butter. .... The reason given for'the decision was that it contained "definite traces of boric acid." No finality has yet been reached' in .the controversy regarding the effect of adding boric acid to butter as a. preservative. In the meantime the law of New Zealand permits the use of not mire than, 30. grains per pound,)and a, certain percentage is allowed in butter maaiuf actured for the English market. On the other hand,, the American law will not permit the importation of butter containing any preservative other than salt. ■ The . big port of Seattle, Washington State, is at present probably the consumer of- Australian and New Zealand produce, and it happened that when the first consignment of 1000 boxes was condemned on arrival on November 15th there had been a great deal of speculation. Colonial butter had been selling at a loss, and,the withdrawal of this quantity eased the-position of a, mimcer o"f "jobbers." The second consignment of 400 boxes was condemned towards the end of. January. '■,-.• + :„ f Dairy companies are adopting suict, precautions to keep acid out of their produce, as the slightest trace of bone acid detected in butter by the Umted State analysts leads to its condemnation.