FAULTY BUTTER BOXES.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 60, 18 December 1924, Page 4

FAULTY BUTTER BOXES.

EFFECT ON QUALITY. Danger of Wood Taint. A warning 1 has been issued to dairy companies by the National Dairy Council that butter boxes should be made from only seasoned timber as there is a danger of boxes made from unseasoned timber tainting’ the butter they contain. Trouble is reported to have arisen in Australia on account of mould and wood taint having been detected in Australian butter on its arrival in England. Queensland butter especially has been the subject of complaint in this respect and the whole subject was being investigated by the Customs Department. The unevenness of the boards from which the boxes were made and faulty dressing was responsible for the mould. The timber was known as sinker pine and was said to be particularly objectionable if used without being unseasoned. Lining the boxes with paraffin wax had been tried but was only partly effective. Since, however, there had been considerable improvement in this method and the customs authorities were considering its adoption.

Heavy losses were being sustained by butter factories on account of the faulty boxes. The taint was particularly noticeable during the months of March, April and May, but only the surface of the butter to a depth of one-sixteenth of an inch was affected. Experienced shippers had stated that the taint disappeared after a time and the elusive nature of the complaint made it more difficult to deal with.

Efforts were now being* made to procure a timber for the manufacture of butter boxes which would not taint the contents.