ARSENIC IN APPLES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19666, 18 December 1925, Page 9

ARSENIC IN APPLES

PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC,

DRASTIC BRITISH REGULATIONS,

(Pits* Association —By Telegraph—Copyright.} LONDON, December 16. (Received Dec. 17, at 5.5 p.m.) After an informal conference between representatives of the National federation of Fruit Traders and the health officers of the port of London and the medical staff of the Ministry of Health, Dr M'F'adden, of the Ministry, emphatically stated that the Ministry intended to pursue its investigation at the docks as far us possible. On finding even one-hun-dredth part of a grain of arsenic to the pound of apples it would continue a minute examination, and on finding onetenth of a grain per pound it would probably condemn the entire cargo and not allow re-export, but order the cargo to bo shipped back to the country or origin. Personally, ho would order condemnation whenever the presence of one-hundredth of a grain was brought to Iris notice. Tire utmost the Ministry would do was to extend leniency for the next five weeks. The fruitgrowers would have to find other means of combating pests as the Ministry was determined not to allow the use of poisonous food. The Federation at a meeting decided that it at as useless to approach the Ministry further, but a sub-committee was formed to urge upon all the High Commissioners and Agente-General the necessity of investigating the matter with a view to getting the drastic regulations modified.—A. and N.Z. Coble.