LONDON BUTTER.

Southland Times, Issue 1268, 21 June 1870, Page 3

LONDON BUTTER.

What the substance is which is usually sold for butter we all know. Batter is supposed to be the fatty portion of milk, which is first removed in the form of cream, and afterwards violently stirred and beaten by means of a churn. Under the most careful treatment some water will be retained, and a certain quantity of salt is necessary to keep the butter fresh. But there is only too much reason for believing that London butter contains in addition starch, lard, and other animal fats. It is even said that silicate of soda is added to tallow, with the double object of increasing the weight and giving an appearance of lightness Chloride of calcium and other deliquescent substances have also been said to be put in with the < salt to assist the grease in retaining moisture. Much of the nasty compound thus made up is manufactured at .Rotterdam, and it is said that the manufacture is conducted solely for the English market. In Holland itself, we are told, this disagreeable " substitute for butter at breakfast" is unknown. It is even stated that a few years ago the Board of Commerce at Delft tried to combat the adulterators, and for that purpose sent real butter of good quality to England, but that the cheaper, falisfied article, suited the trade better. In the first number of the Mod Journal, there is an interesting article on this subject, in which the results of tbe examination of twenty-six different samples of butter bought in various parts of London, are. given. And we find that twelve con-v tamed a larger or smaller quantity of grease, one contained grease and starch; another contained grease and manganese, and one contained manganese alone. The presence of manganese is thus accounted for. Some " knowing ones " are in the habit of buying up stale butter at a low price, and submitting it to a process of washing in a weak solution of an alkaline permanganate. The butter having been rendered inodorous by this means, is re-ialted, and subsequently washed with a little milk, after which it is sold as " fresh Dorset butter/ 1 afclß 83 or Is lOd per lbw — JMa.