§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the President of the Local Government Board whether there is in his Department any definition or standard of vinegar, based either upon the substances from which it is manufactured or upon the percentage of acetic acid which it contains; and whether, in the absence of a due percentage of the above acid, prosecutions of its vendors under the Food and Drugs Act are authorised by the Board?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)There is no statutory definition of vinegar for the purposes of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, but, in view of the numerous representations made to them on the subject, the Board stated their views as to the proper significance of the terms "vinegar," "malt vinegar," and "artificial vinegar" in a letter addressed to the secretary of the London and County Vinegar Brewers' Association on 15th December last. The Board have no power to authorise prosecutions under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTWhat steps are being taken to ensure that the letter is being acted upon by all the traders concerned?
§ Mr. BURNSI will send the hon. Member a copy of the letter, and he may rest assured that it gave great satisfaction to those who are in favour of pure vinegar. I think there is a probability that the definition set forth in that letter may be adopted by the best manufacturers.
§ Mr. LYNCHMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman to take notice that with regard to vinegar the important point is not the percentage of acetic acid, but the presence of by-products according as it is manufactured by distillation or by fermentation?