FOOD ADULTERATION ACT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1117, 28 September 1883, Page 3

FOOD ADULTERATION ACT.

The following oriel summary of the above Act. which comes into force on the Ist of December, it will lie well for tradesmen to make themselves acquainted with Every baker must have his full initials stamped in Horn m letters not less than an inch long upon every loaf baked by him or sold from his 'aikeiy, under a penalty of L 5 f"r every loaf -old without being so stamped. He is also required, under the same penalty. 1 to have the true weight of the loaf similarly ! s amped upon it in figures of like size", I Th re is an equal penalty for every person j off ring for sale in any store, shop, or buiuUng, or in any street or open place o' puohe resort, any loaf not sn s amp -d, and any person selling bread deft mint in audit. In selling “ stale ” bread, which is defined as bread which has b en manuf: ctu od for -1 hours or mere, the stale loaf may he short weight, hut the loss is to be made up oy ad Png other bread, so that the customer snail receive the weight paid for, and the p malty o r L 5 Is prescribed for infringetiTmt of this rule. Bikers are to sell brea I only in “ French loaves or baton loaves” of two, four, six, or eight pounds in weightrespectively, a L 5 fine being again imp ised for infringement. These provisions do not apply to fancy bread.” Inspectors a>-o to examine from time to time the breid offered for sale in their districts and test the weight of the loaves—such inspeeiors to be appointed by the local an-[unities. Any pur chaser of drugs or articles of food may have them analys'd by a Government analyst on payment of a fee, an 1 prosecute if adulteration is detected. Inspectors may procure for analysis samples of fond or drags by paying the ordinary price, and a 1,10 penalty for re us dto sell is provided. 1, purchasing for analysis, the putohaser shall divide the article into thiee parts, each to be sealed np—one to he delivered to the. vendor, one to the analyst, and one retained by the purchaser for comparison. Samples of impor ed wines or spirits may bo de* ntandc without payment by the inspector for analysis ; and if adulteration is discove e l. the imuorter must enter the bond, destroy the adulterated liquor, or export it from the Colony ; failing which, it is to be destroyed by the Customs. All milk and other articles of food, and all drugs must vetch the Btai.dardsspeoificd in the schedule to the Act. Spirits may he reduced in strength by dilution with water to 2o ddgrees under ptoof in the case of brandy, whisky, or rum ; nr to do degrees in the case of gin. It is to be no defence In a prosecution for adulteration to prove that the analyst’s fee was not paid ; or that the purchaser, having bought for analysis, was not prejudiced by the sale; oy that the article, though defective in nature, or sub stance, or .quality, was nof defective in a b these respects. The fees recovered under this Act go to the local body.