NEW FOOD REGULATIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18689, 21 April 1924, Page 5

NEW FOOD REGULATIONS

THE WEIGHT OF BUTTER. DRINKS AND DISINFECTANTS. Tho final draft' of tho amended regulations under the Sal® of Food and Drugs Act is now in the hands of the Government Printer, and they will probably become operative within a fewweeks. It is understood that the new provisions will include a regulation fixing standard weights for butter. Such statements as " guaranteed to contain not less « than 15J ounces" will be illegal, and will not relieve retailers of their liability in the case of the package being underweight. Another important provision will relate to the sale of drinks in soda fountains' and similar refreshment places. The object of the regulation will be to remedy an existing anomaly. While at the present time bottlers of summer drinks and other beverages are required to label them with a statement as to whether they are artificial flavours or made from natural fruits, drinks served from fountains under fruity names/ do not carry any guarantee that they are pure fruit drinks.

Another new proposal deals with the labelling of disinfectants, g-ermicida, antiseptics and deodorants. The> department considers that the distinction between these various preparations should be! made . clearer and that the public should know for what purpose and in what proportion the preparation should properly he used. For instance, without any special knowledge on the subject, many persons may be lulled into a false sense of security by pouring a, deodorant into a foul-smelling drain. This would have the effect of masking the smell but would most probably have no value in destroying the germ causing the smell, and therefore would not reduce the risk of contamination.

Some provision is also proposed for a standard method of pasteurising milk and labelling same. A long standing; complaint on th,e part of the housewife will also be dealt with. In the past she has had no definite method of knowing whether eggs solc( as " fresh eggs" have been preserved or chilled. Under the new regulations, when passed, a proper description will require to be stamped on the shells.