Sessional_Paper_1911 — Page 42

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VII.

Minute by the Government Analyst.

Condensed skimmed milk is prepared in enorinous quantities on the continent of Europe by butter manufacturers. The residue left after reinoving nearly all the fat by separating machinery is concentrated, after the addition of sufficient cane sugar—or beet sugar-to form about 35 to 45 per cent. of the finished product, ie., an amount fully equal to the milk solids in the concentrated milk. The condensation is between 2 and 3 as a rule, i.e., one part- by weight of product represents 24 to 34 parts by weight of original milk.

According to evidence given, by a witness claiming to be one of the largest manufacturers, before the Departmental Committee on Milk Regulations in 1900, cane sugar is not neces- sary as a preservative but is added to meet the public taste.

"The added sugar renders it too carbonaceous and 'fattening', though lacking in fat, "but apart from this the nutritive value of condensed milk seems to be inferior to that of "fresh milk, especially in regard to bone-formation and stamina." (Hygiene and Public Health, by Whitelegge and Newnan, 1908.)

"A serious consequence arising from the addition of a large amount of sugar to con- "densed milk is that the preparation is unsuitable for ordinary purposes, unless mixed with "such a proportion of water as to dilute it far beyond the bulk of the milk before "concentration. Some labels bear a statement that, if mixed with from 3 to 5 volumes of

water, the milk may be used as a substitute for cream. As a fact, though the article thus "diluted will have the consistence and appearance of cream, it will contain less fat than is

present in ordinary uncondensed new milk.

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A highly reprehensible statement which is made on the labels of many brands of "condensed milk, is that, for infants' use, the preparation should be diluted with from six to 'fourteen

of water. This direction, it carried out to the extreme limit, would yield a "fluid containing only 3 to 4 per cent. of milk-solids (instead of 12 to 13 per cent.), and in some cases less than 1 per cent. of fat (instead or 3 to 4 per cent.). In some instances "the labels bear the statement that nurses are disposed to add too little water.”

The Select Committee on Food Products Adulteration, in their report published July 1896, recommended that, in the case of condensed milk made from skimmed milk, the label "of the tin should describe the contents in large and legible type, and that a notification "should be printed thereon that such milk is not suitable for the purpose of feeding infants "and young children. But the Committee do not appear to have realised the grave mischief "caused by false statements respecting the dilution which should be practised when the milk "is intended for the feeding of infants."

Unfortunately, such flagrant misrepresentations as disgrace the condensed milk trade "are not punishable under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, and the proceedings which are

possible under other enactments lack the necessary initiative.

(Commercial Organic Analysis, Vol. IV, by A. H. Allen, 1898.)

The author quoted-oue of the foremost authorities on the subject-cites several brands in support of the above and shows how the milk, when diluted according to directions, will contain anything down to 0-68 per cent. of fat, even in the case of condensed whole milk. He then concludes :-

"From these figures it appears that an attempt to feed an infaut in accordance with "the directions issued with some brands of condensed milk will either result in the child "being half-starved, or will compel it to imbibe such a quantity of fluid as cannot fail to

'prove a serious strain on its system.

The above remarks refer to all condensed milks, but have far greater force in the case of machine-skimined, and when it is remembered that the proteids are equally attenuated the serious aspect of the matter is increased.

Scientific and medical witnesses before the Commission of 1900 used such phrases- as "starvation to children fed on them", when speaking of condensed skimmed milks.