WATER IN BREAD.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13332, 8 July 1907, Page 6

WATER IN BREAD.

WARNING TO BAKERS. At the Hawthorn Court (Victoria), several bakers were' - proceeded against on charges of having sold bread containing" more than 40 per cent, of moisture. Mr Derham appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Meagher for 'the Master Bakers' Association, in defence. The first case taken was that of a baker charged with having sold' a loaf of bread which, on being analysed,'proved to contain per cent, of water. To Mr Meagher: Some flours contained a greater amount of moisture than others. He did not know of any difficulty to bakers in turning N out bread containing less than 40 per cent, of water. Too much water tended to acidity in bread. John Balloch, the defendant, d-eposed that the bread was turned out in the usual way in his bakehouse by his foreman. The custom,- in the trade was to mix 21 gallons of liquor with 400 lb of flour. If ths bread had less than 40 per cent, of water it.would not be acceptable to customers.

' Frederick' William M'Donald, flour traveller, John Walker and Frederick Reith, master bakers, gave evidence setting forth the usual method's adopted in. bread-mak-ing. Each witness stated that if the bread did not contain a certain amount of water, viz., approaching 40 per cent, to the loaf, it would turn but hard, like a bullet. Up to 4o per cent, of water was considered a fair average for a good loaf, which found favour -with the public. It was impossiblt to gauge exactly the quantity of water in a loaf. Mr Meagher said 'that the Pure Foods Committee should have given the bakers notice of their intention to make the regulation in question. Mr Smallman,' P.M., chairman of the Bench, said the Bench considered a 'fine of 20s with ;£4 4s coste, would meet tb? case, it being the first prosecution of the kind. Tile Bench was of opinion that defendant and bakers generally were; conversant with, the requirements of the act. Any future convictions would be met jby the imposition of the highest penalty, which for a first offence was £25, for the second' £SO, and for a third offence £IOO. Four others were fined.