§ 8. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether under the Sale of Milk Regulations it is open to inspectors of local authorities to prosecute milk producers for the alleged adulteration of milk by the addition of water on the ground that such milk contains less than 8.5 per cent. of solids when in fact such milk contains admittedly over 5 per cent. of butter fat, and 167 there is no deficiency of solids other than sugar, demonstrating that such adulteration, in the opinion of chemical experts, could not possibly have occurred; and whether steps will be taken by the Board, in fairness to dairy farmers, to secure that no conviction shall take place in cases where the fat content exceeds 3 per cent. unless the public analyst, on whose evidence the prosecution depends, has ascertained also by analysis not merely the percentage of total solids, but, in addition thereto, the respective percentages of ash, milk, sugar, and proteins?
§ Mr. HERBERT LEWISThe Sale of Milk Regulations of 1901 provide that where a sample of milk is found to contain less than 8.5 per cent. of milk solids other than milk fat it shall be presumed until the contrary is proved that the milk is adulterated by the addition of water. It is open to inspectors of local authorities to avail themselves of this presumption however rich the milk may be in fat, but in the opinion of the Board of Agriculture the fact that a sample of milk is rich in fat, and other circumstances, should be taken into consideration by the officers of a local authority when deciding the question of instituting proceedings, and the Board believe that this course is usually adopted. There is a division of opinion among experts as to whether a deficiency of non-fatty solids due to a low proportion of milk sugar is an indication that the milk is genuine though abnormal, and the Board do not think it desirable that the discretion of local authorities should be limited in the manner suggested in the last part of the question.