ADULTERATED BUTTER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 194, 6 January 1913, Page 6

ADULTERATED BUTTER.

HOW AUSTEALTAN PRODUCE SUFFERS. BLENDED WITH INFERIOR STUFF. Melbourne, December 22. Sensational statements affecting the butter industry are made in a report to the External Affaira Department giving the results of a secret enquiry ordered iby Mr.. Thomas into the marketing of Australian butter in England.

It is said that the British factories make their profits 'by getting Australian butter and Wending it with their own. Many of these factories are allied to shops having a very extensive retail business throughout the country, and they put blended butter on the market at tho highest prices. "Australian butter," says the officer, "is bartered in this way. First it arrives as a pure and unadulterated article, consigned to or bought right out by the importer, who disposes of it at a profit to the English factory, where it is blended to the satisfaction of the wholesale and retail merchants. But the Gutter is no longer Australian. It changes its name to 'The World's Choicest.' And again a profit is realised, which makes the fourth from the Australian article."

It may correctly be said that a large quantity of Australian ibutter is used for no other purpose than to rescue at a 'big profit the inferior staff -manufactured in Britain and elsewhere, which could not be sold on its -merits. Manufacturers of imitation butter blended with Australian butter, are making enormous profits. The trade in imitation butters, which not only destroys the name of Australian butter in London, but injures the honest marketing of the genuine article, will continue to blossom until the British Parliament takes action.

The report states that whilst Danish butter is sold as such, the importer, who is also the blended, will have to rely on Australian and Siberian ibutter for blending with his poor product, and thus will oppose any rises in Australian prices. Australian is disposed of as follows:—3s per cent. goes for Wending with other butters, 3 per cent, for blending with margarine, 10 per cent, for imitation butter, 3 per cent, for use in ships, 'and about 50 per cent, is disposed of under other names by the salesmen. It is urged very strongly that Australian _bntt er should be introduced in the retail markets as Australian. It would be easy to induce a few grocers in every town and city to show Australian buMer in the same advantageous way as Danish, and illustrated lectures would assist to make it known.