PURITY OF FOOD.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11123, 24 July 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

PURITY OF FOOD.

HOW THE NEW ACT SECURES IT. (From our Parliamentary Reporter.) i WELLINGTON, last night. The most important measure dealing , with foods and drugs which has ever been placed on the New Zealand Statute Book went through Parliament last week, and may therefore be said to haye passed the worst ordeal of criticism and amendment, and to have every chance ol becoming law. As a number of important amendments were jnade in the Pure Foods Bill during its passage through the House, a summary of its provisions will be of interest, especially seeing that they are destined to create a radical change in . the nature of much of our food and drink. "Food", according to the Bill, is not merely that which we consume at- our tables, but comprises every article which is used for food or drink by man, or which enters into or is used in the composition or preparation of such article, aud also includes flavoring matters and condiments. This means that not only is the breakfast mutton chop liable to be seized for analysis if it is not already in a private house, but that flavorings and sauces are also liable to have their, claims to purity tested. The measure is called a "Pure Food Bill," but. it also seems to cover drugs which are defined to include "medicine, whether for internal, or. external purposes." . . So comprehensive is. the definition of "food" that a confectioner who used a few drops of an impure flavoring essence in his sweetmeats would be liable to penalty. /Any person who believes he has been victimised by, say, the wooden nutmeg or any form of adulteration of article intended for human consumption has a right upon payment of ; the analyst's fee and the cost of a sample to require any constable to purchase a portion of the article suspected to.be impure or adulterated and submit it for analysis of the Health Department, or any constable authorised Dy the Chief Health Officer shall have power to enter and inspect any place in which they have reasonable cause to believe food is intended for sale, and to seize any which appears to.be unwholesome or deleterious to health. There is no power to enter a private house, but otherwise the officers' range of action is very wide, extending to butcher's or baker's carts and to the kitchen: of a restaurant. : . . Where the new Bill breaks new ground is. in ite control, pf proprietary articles : sold under particular brands. Generally well-advertised brands oi . tea, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, soap, and. other commodities, for which there is a. big sale, are often mixed .with ingredients not specified on the label, but the new Bill, with an - important..; exception, - . . requires "Blank's mustard" to be nothing bnt. the product of mustard seed. If it is not, it comes, under the ban of the Health Department. : If there has been a judici. our introduction of flour this must be confessed on the label,, unless, and this is the .important point for owners of popular proprietary articles, the Governor^ by, ,Order-in-Gouncil has exempted the particular brand from the operation of the Act. If "Blank's mustard" has . been slightly . ; adulterated, but is known to be a reliable article, the Governor may grant it exemption, and the label need not confess that there is a little flour in the compound. Most people prefer their coffee mixed with chicory, and -under a new sub-clause introduced, in Committee it will still be possible for a manufac- . -tiirer to sell a favorite coffee mixture including chicory without changing his present^ label. . Retailers who deal in. food compounds are protected against prosecution for' adulteration if they secure a warranty from the wholesale , merchant, and the latter, in turn, may rely on a warranty from/the manufacturer, but no warranty given -by a person residing outside the colony can be held to be a good; defence to an action unless the defendant proves that he had taken reasonable stops to ascertain and did, in fact, believe in the truth of the matters set forth in the warranty relied upon. Extensive powers are given to make regulations by Order-in-Council gazetted. These regulations may prescribe the standard of strength j weight, quality, or quantity of any food or drug, prohibit objectionable mode of ritanufacture, prescribe the mode and nature of labelling upon food or drug packages, and prohibit the sale of specified articles of food other than by weight. The penalty for a breach of the Act is £50 or under. To give merchants an opportunity of disposing of stock in trade which, though not complying with the present law, would not meet the stricter provisions of the Pure Foods Bill, a special clause enables them to sell any food or drug within twelve months of- the gazetting of regulations under, the Act, even if they don't comply with it, so iong as the articles -were naturaly part of the merchant's stock in trade or had been purchased by him before gazetting. The measure has yet to pass the Legislative Council. It is intended to come into operation on January Ist, 1908.