ADULTERATION OF FOOD.

Western Star, Issue 2216, 24 June 1898, Page 2

ADULTERATION OF FOOD.

The following letter appeared in a recent issue of the Dunedin Star : -i'he letter on diseased meat signed “ Purity of Food,” deals with a question which is much overlooked by the public. The writer speaks of the necessity for strict surveillance of goodintended for consumption by the public, and his remarks are well supported by facts. Take liquors for instance. It is notorious the amount of adulteration carried on in the manufacture of these—whisky, brandy, beer, and the rest. It is not the pure liquor taken moderately that sends so many people to lunatic asvlums, but the vile, noxious compounds, which weaken tin system and destroy the brain. If the Prohibitionists would pay attention to this phase of the subject they would do seme good for the public. Again, there is tea. Notwithstanding the variety of teas in the market, there are large quantities offered for sale which are quite unfit for human o .nsumption. The lowest grades of Chinese teas may bo mixed with a small proportion of good tea, and this compound, loaded with coloring matter and foreign substances, is got rid of under the name of “ blended a blend, no doubt, but not such as any respectable merchant cr grocer would offer for sale. The public would do well to be on their guard against purchasing this abominable stuff, which, sold as tea, is offered at low prices, and the drinking of which produces dyspepsia and other diseases. What wo require is some system of Government inspection of these adulloiatad articles of food. Great quantities of Chinese teas were lately stopped by the Governments of Canada, United States, etc, as unfit for food, and it is time in New Zealand that steps were taken to prevrut the importation of suoh dangerous staff into this colony.