M 68
Food and Drugs.
During the year 457 samples of food were examined under the Food and Drugs Ordinance, as compared with 579 samples in 1927. Of these 21 or 4.6% were found to be adulterated. The following Table shows the nature of the samples examined:
Substance No. of samples analysed No. found genuine No. found adulterated Coffee 34 34 0 Butter, Fresh 27 27 0 Tinned 5 5 0 Tea 34 31 3 Milk, Tinned 33 33 0 Fresh 70 66 4 Skimmed 1 1 0 Sterilised 1 1 0 Flour 47 47 0 Pepper 25 12 13 Sugar 56 56 0 Bread 83 83 0 Mustard 1 0 1 Confectionery 0 0 0 Lard 9 9 0 Cocoa 5 5 0 Arrowroot 1 1 0 Jam 7 7 0 Cheese 10 10 0 Vinegar 6 6 0 Totals 457 436 21The confectionery samples mentioned above were particularly examined for the presence of injurious colouring matters but in no case were such found.
Water Supplies.
In my report for 1927, I commented on the great increase which had taken place during the past few years in the number of samples of water examined in the Laboratory. The year just ended has seen a still further large increase, the number of samples examined being 1,793 as against 1,253 in 1927. If the work continues to grow at the present rate it will be necessary next year to have an additional assistant to devote practically the whole of his time to this branch of work.