HEW ZEALAND CORDIAL ADULTERATIONS (?)

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 763, 20 October 1904, Page 24

HEW ZEALAND CORDIAL ADULTERATIONS (?)

The Melbourne "‘Brewers’ Journal'’ has the following : — “So soon as the brewers and those others who are connected with the liquor trades obtain a respite from the petty annoyance and pin-pricks of that self-con-constituted body, known as prohibitionists, who are endeavouring, by Act of Parliament, to make a man a criminal who quaffs a glass of beer when he requires one, either as a thirst-quencher or as an invigorator* the cordial-makers are to have their morals subjected to scrutiny and reproof. By morals we refer only to their trade morals, which are, according to some reports, very bad indeed. Their bottles do not contain liquids of the quality stated on their labels, and the liquid contains a preservative, which constitutes an adulteration. Their cordials are not up to the standard of excellence they ought to be according to the ‘Purity Bungler's’ dictum, consequently they must be brought up to that standard by an Act of Parliament. (By the same token, an Act should become law compelling consumers to ask for and pay for the best qualities of foods and drinks, because the people, in a large majority of cases, do not want the best, but the cheapest.) The generality of cordials, as a rule, are not ‘ put up to suit all tastes, but to suit all t pockets ; the public is as great a bargain hunter in foodstuffs as in dress-stuffs. It is stated that it was in the handling of materials by the middleman that fraud began, and recent history went to show that the growth of the science of chemistry had led to fights between the analyst and the fraudulent manufacturer of foods and drinks. The Sale of Foods and Drugs Bill (which incudes cordials) is being introduced to New Zealand Parliament by Sir Joseph Ward. This gentleman is Minister in charge of the Health Department, and is, personally, a right good fellow, and a man not easily led by faddists’ misrepresentations. In this bill there is provision for the appointment of analysts, who may from time to time purchase samples of manufactures sold in the colony. Purchasers may also have their purchases analysed by the Government experts. Clause 9 of the bill pro♦vides for the punishment of any person “ who adds, or orders, or causes any other person to add, any ingredient or maseial to (a) any article of food, so as to render the same injurious to health, or

(b) any drug, etc. . . . and in either case with the intent that the article or drug may be sold in that state.” Clause 10 provides that every person who sells any article of food (a) to which any ingredient or material has been added, which, though not injurious to health, increases the weight or bulk of such article, or conceals its inferior quality, or (b) from which any part has been abstracted so as to injuriously affect its quality, substance, or nature, is liable to a fine not exceeding. TlO, unless he supplies to the person receiving- the same a notice, by a label distinctly and legibly written on, or with, the article, to the effect that the article contains such added ingredient or material, or has been altered by such abstraction.” The use of false or misleading labels is to be met with substantial penalties, and a standard of purity is to be set out for all foodstuffs and urinkstutis.

We will resign no place to others in our advocacy of wholesome chunks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic ; we are as anxious ourselves to have them as we are to have pure food, but we are not so intolerant and unreasonable as the “ Purity Bunglers ” section of this lawracked country. We have always, and with our usual consistency, advocated the use of a reasonable quantity of some antisceptic, sufficent only for the preservation of such liquids that may deteriorate through the presence of active ferment germs ; in this position we are backed by the opinions of some of the most illustrious names in the medical world.