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REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ANALYST TO THE GOVT. OF MADRAS
APPENDIX.
PARTICULARS OF ADULTERATED SAMPLES.
Madras City.— Four hundred and sixty-five samples were certified as adulterated. Of
these 303 related to ghee and in 212 cases proceedings were instituted. Of these 152
were withdrawn in view of the High Court decision referred to above Two were with--
drawn as the vendors absconded and the remaining 58 were convicted. The fines inflicted
varied from Re. 1 to Rs. 30. Foreign fat was present in amounts varying from 20 to
100 per cent.
Twenty-four milks were certified as adulterated. Fifteen vendors were prosecuted.
Two cases were withdrawn and the remaining thirteen vendors were fined from Re. 1 to
Rs. 15. While most of the adulterated samples contained added water a few were also
deficient in milk-fat. The amount of added water varied from 12 to 51 per cent.
Twenty-three samples of tea were adulterated and 22 vendors were prosecuted. Two
cases were withdrawn. The remaining twenty vendors were fined from Rs. 2 to 15. A
majority of the adulterated teas were found to contain a preparation of blackgram husk
prepared in imitation of tea dust.
Ninety-three samples of coffee were certified as adulterated and 64 vendors were
prosecuted. The usual adulterants were chicory or exhausted coffee. The lowest and
highest fines were Rs. 2 and 15 respectively.
Ten samples of butter contained excess water. In seven cases a warning was considered
sufficient. Three vendors were fined Rs. 5, 10 and 5 respectively.
Twelve samples of gingelly oil were certified as adulterated. All the vendors were
prosecuted for addition of arachis (groundnut) oil which was present in quantities
varying from 10 to 100 per cent. Six cases were withdrawn. The remaining six vendors
were fined from Rs. 2 to Rs. 25.
Calicut.— Seventeen samples were certified as adulterated. Six samples of ghee were
found to be adulterated with foreign fat varying from 25 to 75 per cent. All the vendors
were prosecuted. One was fined Rs. 5, three cases were withdrawn and two others were
acquitted. The acquitted cases have been taken to the High Court.
Four milk vendors who sold milk adulterated with added water varying from 12 to 34
per cent were prosecuted. and fined from Re. 1 to Rs. 4.
Seven samples of tea dust were found adulterated, the usual adulterant being blackgram
husk. All the vendors were prosecuted. One case was withdrawn and another vendor was
acquitted. The remaining five were fined from.Re. 1 to Rs. 5.
Coimbatore.—Thirty-eight samples were reported as adulterated. Six related to ghee
which contained foreign. fat from 15 to 70 per cent. One vendor was cautioned and the
remaining five were prosecuted and fined from Rs. 5 to Rs. 50.
Fifteen samples of milk were certified as adulterated with added water from 10 to 51
per cent. Of these three were skimmed milks with nearly equal proportions of added water.
There were six convictions. The vendors of mixtures of skimmed milk and water were fined
Rs. 50, 50 and 75, while other vendors who sold milk with added water were fined from
Rs. 5 to Rs. 40.
Nine samples of tea were certified as adulterated. Six vendors were cautioned and the
remaining three prosecuted. One case was withdrawn and the other two vendors who sold
tea adulterated with blackgram husk 13 and 40 per cent were fined Rs. 30 and Rs. 50
respectively. A vendor who refused to sell a sample for analysis was prosecuted and fined
Rs. 20.
Three adulterated samples of coffee contained chicory up to the extent of 75 per cent.
Two vendors were cautioned and a third who sold coffee mixed with 45 per cent chicory was
fined Rs. 20.
Five samples of gingelly oil were reported as adulterated with groundnut oil from 20 to
100 per cent. All the vendors were prosecuted and fined from Rs. 10 to Rs. 50.
Kumbakonam.—Thirty-seven samples were certified as adulterated. Prosecution in all
cases but one.
Four vendors who sold ghee adulterated with foreign fat varying from 25 to 90 per cent
were prosecuted. As one absconded the case against him was withdrawn. The rest were
fined from Rs. 2 to Rs. 5.
Eight samples of tea were reported as adulterated. All the vendors were prosecuted and
fined Rs. 7 each except in two cases where the fine was Rs. 10 each. In one of these two
cases the servant who sold the sample was fined Rs. 5 and the owner Rs. 5. A majority of
the adulterated teas contained blackgram husk.