The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1900-02-27
THE FOOD INSPECTOR.
Reports Upon Samples of Milk, Beer,
Butter, cuftee aud Tea as Ana
lyzed by Him

lYEeu Dy Rim
Honolulu, H. l., Jan. 2, 1900.
Hon. H. E. Cooper, President Board of
Health.
Sir: / submit herewith report of
work done in the laboratory of Food
Commissioner for the month of De-
cember, 1899.
Milk inspection has been carried on
as usual. The number of samples TAX
en- is less than usual, owing to the
difficulty Of keeping track of milkmen,
who owing to quarantine regulations,
have been continually changing their
routes and time of delivery.
The analyses of milk samples is as
follows: Sixty-six samples were TAX
EN- from the wagons on the street and
three samples from the diaries, max
ing total of sixty-nine samples ana
lyzed. The samples taken from milk
wagons represent twenty-three diaries.
The samples taken from the three dali
ries represent the milk of thirty eight
cows, which gave the highest total SOL
ids at 1925 and the lowest at 1900
per cent. The highest butter fat at
$50 and the lowest at 500 per cent. The
samples from the wagons gave the
highest total solids at 1852 and the
lowest at lilo per cent. The highest
butter fat at 4.20 and the lowest at 2.75
per cent.
During the month fifteen samples of
so-called key or cooking butter have
been obtained, chiefly from Chinese
Eight samples were supplied as Cali
fornia keg. butter at 20 to SO cents per
pound, all Of which were found to be
oleomargarine containing no butter
fat. Five were sold as cooking but
ter at about same price. These also
were found to be Oleomargarine. One
sample was sold as New Zealand but
ter and was found to be genuine, as
was one sample sold as Island butter.
In one case complaint was made for
violation of section 1877, Penal Laws,
1897, which deals especially with the
sale of oleomargarine. The defendant,
Hung Lee Chan, was found guilty and
fined IS; and has appealed to the Cir
cult Court. A similar complaint was
made against All Leong, from whom
the first defendant bought the oleo-
margarine. This case was dismissed,
as it was shown that the key in ques-
ton was marked "Oleomargarine."
At the request of the manager of the
Pantheon saloon, | took a sample of
Enterprise beer from a key as deliv-
cred from steamer Australia, and
found it to be free from salicylic acid.
The saloon has resumed the use of this
beer, the manufacturers guaranteeing
1t free from this preservative.
One sample Of coffee was examined
and found to be genuine. l have be-
gun making personal visits to stores
from which samples of adulterated
coffee were obtained last month. So
far as l have gone at present-five
stores-I have found either that the
coffee is now marked Coffee Mixture"
or that the claim has been made that
the sale OF coffee has been discontin-
ued. The storekeeper claimed that he
had never heard of coffee and did not
know what it was.
One sample of tea has been exam
ined. A small quantity of harmless
facing was found, but no other leaves
than those of the tea plant.
A sample of a preservative known
as "Freezine" was examined and found
to be a weak solution of formalin, col
ored to disguise it.
Respectfully,
EDMUND C. SHOREY,
Food Commissioner and Analyst
oN-