LEMONADE MAKER FINED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18323, 13 August 1921, Page 13

LEMONADE MAKER FINED

SACCHARINE INSTEAD OF SUGAR. In the City Police Court yesterday morning. before Mr .T. R. Bartholomew. S.M.. Lanes (Ltd.) were proceeded against on charges of using certain substance.? in the manufacture of. lemonade which were not permitted by (ho regulations of the Food and Drugs Act. In the first case they were charged with selling at Oamaru lemonade containing salicylic acid, and in the second case they were charged with selling lemonade containing saccharine. —Mr Adams represented the Health Department. Mr Calvert appeared for the defendant firm, and entered a plea of guilty to each charge. The saccharine case was exactly the same as the one which had been hoard during the previous week, and the reason why the saccharine was used was owing to the shortage of sugar. However, the shortage was only eked out by the saccharine, which was not wholly substituted for the sugar at any time. With reference to the other charge, the only preservative allowed by the regulations was sulphur dioxide, but experience had shown that it was very difficult to prevent fermentatl of the sugar when this substance alone v, . . ■ ’ It had been ascertained, however, that th . addition of a small quantity of salicylic acid prevented fermentatation. and ho understood that the members of the trade intended making representations to permit them to use it as a preservative. Howeverj as the regulations stood there was no authority for its addition.

Mr Adams said there was no provision at the present time for tho addition of salicylic acid as a preservative. Apparently the regulations had been obeved in the past, and until they were amended thev would have to be observed. Mr Calvert: I may stw that when lemonade was sent forward to tho troops salicylic acid was used. ... Mr Adams: But they cave some terrible things to the troops.—(Laughter.) i Mr Calvert added that the trouble about sulphur dioxide was that it evaporated xerv rapidly, and it was thus almost impossible to get tho mixture into (he bottles in correct proportions. , . . . j Tho Magistrate said he did not intend to criticise the regulations, but must regard them as proper and necessary safeguards. The charge of using saccharine instead of sugar was similar to the case with which he had dealt last week. His Worship imposed a fine of £5 on C[lC|l char go, with costs totalling £7.