COLOURING JAM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19045, 15 December 1923, Page 2

COLOURING JAM.

LOCAL- FIRM BEFORE COURT. Before Mr H. W. Bundle, SAL, yesterday Irvine and Stevenson were charged with selling a tin cf apple and raspberry jam containing a colouring substance (red coal tar dye), the addition of which is prohibited under the Sales of Food and Drugs Act. Mr Adams, who prosecuted, said that far back as 1915 the use of this colouring bad received prominence, and the department had announced that it would prosecute these using it. without warning.' The defendant linn had been written to, and the manager acknowledged the letter, stating that written instructions against the use cf the dye had been given. Mr Adams added that the colouring did not represent any great danger to the public. The. Magistrate: Is there any danger Mr Adams explained (bat in (be jam (ho colouring was innocuous, biq if it became associated with similar elements during a meal there might be a certain degree of danger. The principal aim of the departs nient, however, was to prevent the public being imposed upon. jho effect of iho colouring was to give the public the impression that they were buying rich raspberry jam, when in reality they were getting jam that was largely apple. The defendant-s pleaded guilty and were represented by Mr Payne. Counsel said (hat the case had been put very fairly by Mr Adams. The senior partner of (he firm v.as away just now, and tne colouring was used without his knowledge. Mr Bayne emphasised that there was no danger to the public in the use of the dye. Its use was permitted in other articles of food and jams. 1 ue Magistrate said the prosecution had admitted that, for practical purposes the dye was not. injurious to health. Therefore tbo addition of n really amounted to a fraud on the public, who were led to believe that they were getting an article (hey wore not getting. , The defendant would he. convicted and fined £5. costs (£2 7s fid), and solicitor's fee (£3. 35.).-