Annual report of the Department of National Health and Welfare [Canada].

  • Canada. Department of National Health and Welfare.
Date:
[1946]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Department of National Health and Welfare [Canada]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    23/112 (page 17)
    Proceedings were instituted in 138 cases including 16 drug cases. Volun¬ tary payments as provided by the Food and Drugs Act were accepted in 89 cases while 49 cases were disposed of by court convictions. None was dismissed. Sausages and Comminuted Meats In the past such meats have been a prolific source of adulteration due chiefly to the use of sulphites as a preservative and to cereal as a filler or binder in excess of 5 per cent. In the present report the proportion found adulterated has declined to 15*4 per cent. There is some cause for satisfaction in the improved trend as indicated by the following tabulation: Year ending Number Per cent Number of March 31st Examined Adulterated Prosecutions 1941 2,160 31.2 147 1942 2,262 27.3 104 1943 1,614 29.6 99 1944 1,582 17.6 72 1945 1,600 23.7 77 1946 . 1,634 15.4 49 Beverages The use of saccharin in soft drinks is definitely forbidden and attempts by bottlers to eke out their rationed sugar supplies by its use have led to 54 pros¬ ecutions, most of which were settled by voluntary payments out of court as provided by Section 26 of the Food and Drugs Act. Many minor labelling infractions were dealt with after consideration of manufacturers’ problems as it was realized that disrupted sources of supply of containers, caps, and labels, made strict adherence to requirements difficult. War Work With the end of the war occurring in the first quarter of the fiscal year, the number of specimens submitted by the armed forces decreased from 6,803 in 1944-45 to 4,580 in 1945-46. Most of these foodstuffs (4,351 samples) were examined at Ottawa for quality and freedom from spoilage. A monthly check on the Vitamin Bx content of all breads supplied to military establishments across Canada resulted in 1,753 samples being analyzed. Of these, 293 were found to be below specification requirements. In cases of failure to comply with the standards specified, action taken was left to the discretion of the Depart¬ ment of National Defence. Spices During the past year, manufacturers had difficulty in supplying the demand for spices. To ease the situation the composition of some imitation spices was defined. In general these may have a cereal , filler with a specified percentage of the genuine spice, the pungency being maintained by the addition of other spices, spice resin or oil. To prevent deception, they must be properly labelled and the ingredients must be listed. Confectionery Chocolate-coated candy bars required considerable attention. Labelling infractions comprised for the most part omission of the necessary information as to weight and manufacturer’s name and to the use of excessively large cartons. Some latitude was allowed in view of the fact that wartime restrictions on the number of sizes of cartons prevailed. Many special foods such as biscuits, rolls, cookies, etc., with reduced carbo¬ hydrate content were examined for the Department of National Revenue for