CHEMICAL IN CREAM

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 940, 5 April 1930, Page 16

CHEMICAL IN CREAM

DAIRY FACTORY MANAGER IN COURT SUPPLY TO RIVAL FIRM Press Association , WANGANUI, Today. j The manager of the Rangiwahia i Dairy Company, Matthew Leo Rogers, ! was charged in the Magistrate’s Court j yesterday with supplying cream to the ‘ Maoriland Dairy Company, containing j a substance prohibited under the Food ; and Drugs Act. It was alleged that i potassium bichromate, an irritant poi- * son, had been put in the cream as a preservative. Detective Walsh said the facts were rather unusual and involved. Last year the company, while canvassing in Rangiwahia, was successful in getting several farmers to send their cream to Wanganui. Previously they had supplied the Rualiine factory. A certain can of cream, when it arrived at the factory, was noticed to have a peculiar smell. Later, when the same can came back again, it was kept separate and the health officer sent for. Samples were taken for analysis. It was found t.o contain potassium bichromate. It was contended that cream containing this suDstance was not fit for human consumption, as it was an irritant poison. The presence of tho poison might have meant serious consequences to the company. FINDING GRADING Ernest William Pemberton, farmer, and chairman of directors of the Rangiwahia Dairy Company, said the first ho heard of Rogers sending cream to tho Maoriland Company was from Rogers himself. He said he was doing so for the purpose of finding out the Maoriland grading. Rogers did not think the Maoriland Company was grading properly a.nd said he would test them. He said he sent a sample of cream. The directors had a meeting and decided that no more cream should be sent, as the directors did not approve of it. Thomas Pargeter, health inspector, said it was not permissible to allow preservative in cream, not even a harmless preservative, let alone a poisonous one. Alfred D. Collins, chief assistant analyst to - the Federated Co-operative Dairy Factories of Taranaki, testified as to the analysis carried out by his principal, Mr. P. Y. Veale, at which he assisted. The presence of a cropiium salt, potassium bichromate, was discovered. The proportion was .05 per cent. 1 The police contended that the consignments of cream sent forward by Rogers were the preserved samples of cream containing potassium bichromate that he would have on hand at 10-day intervals. Mr. L. Cohen, for the defence, referred to the highly penal nature of any offence under the charge. An act of this sort, he said, endangered the lives of the public. The Crown had to prove that Rogers put the preservative in the cream. “The evidence comes from good mouths,” he said, “but we must have proof.” The Magistrate: I think there is a case to answer. The Court adjourned until today.