Adulteration, the corrupt production of any article, especially food: indictable at common law, see R. v. Dixon, (1814) 3 M&S 11. The adulteration of bread, corn, meal, or flour is made a statutory offence by the Bread Act, 1836, and the (English) Bread Acts (Amendment) Act, 1922 (12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 28), and that of food, including drink, generally by the (English) Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act, 1928 (18 & 19 Geo. 5, c. 31).
By the act the mixing, colouring, staining or powdering of any article so as to render it injurious to health, as to affect injuriously the quality of the drugs or lettering any article in such estate, in punishable for a first offence by a fine not exceeding 50l.; for a second offence by imprison-ment not exceeding six months. The sale to the prejudice of the purchaser of articles of food and drugs not of the nature, substance or quality demanded by the purchaser, is prohibited. Where however, the article is properly labelled as mixed, no liability arises. Provision is made for setting up of Food and Drug Authorities, who can appoint analysts who have powers of sampling articles for the purpose of analysis. Prosecution for offences is in accordance with the Summary Jurisdiction Acts. The Act also has special provisions dealing with milk, butter, margarine, cheese, etc.
As regards milk the complete public control over the production and distribution is provided by the (English) Milk and Dairies (Consolidation) Act, 1915 (5 & 6 Geo. 5, c. 66), the (English) Milk and Dairies (Amendment)Act, 1922 (12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 54), and the Statutory Rules and orders.
Cream which is artificial cream must not be sold except as artificial cream; for a definition of cream and artificial cream see the (English) Artificial Cream Act, 1929 (19 & 20 Geo. 5, c. 32) s. 6; and Lyons v. Keating, (1931) 2 KB 525.
Tea.--See the (English) Adulteration of Tea and Coffee Act, 1724 (11 Geo. 1, c. 30); the Adulteration of Tea Act, 1776 (17 Geo. 3, c. 29), and the (English) Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1875 (38 & 39 Vict. c. 63), s. 30, provide for the examination of imported tea. See TEA.
As to food imported from abroad, see (English) Public Health (regulations as to Food) Act, 1907 (7 Edw. 7, c. 32), and the (English) Public Health (Imported Food) Amendment Regulations, 1933 (S. R. & O., 1933, No. 347), and see FERTILIZERS, UNSOUND FOOD.
As to the adulteration of seeds, see Adulteration of Seeds Act, 1869 (32 & 33 Vict. c. 112); (English) Adulteration of Seeds Act, 1878 (41 Vict. c. 17); the (English) Seeds Act, 1920 (10 & 11 Geo. 5, c. 54), and the (English) Amending Act,1925 (15 & 16 Geo. 5, c. 667), deal with the sale and use of seeds and provide for the testing of them.
In addition to the Acts mentioned above, the following should be referred to: (English) Bread Acts Amendment Act, 1922 (12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 28), the (English) Milk and Dairies (Consolidation) Act, 1915 (5 & 6 Geo. 5, c. 66), and the (English) Amendment Act of 1922 (12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 54).