A definition of what was meant by "vinegar" was given by the London Sessions Appéals Committee, presided over by Mr. Eustace Fulton, when William Tame, a fish frier, of New Street, St. Martin's Lane, appealed against a conviction a anë of £5 and order to pay 25 guineas costs, which had been imposed upon him by Sir Rollo Graham-Campbell at Bow Street Police Court, for selling vinegar which was mot of the nature, substance, and quality demanded by the purchaser.
Mr. St. John Hutchinson, KO.
Supporting the magistrate's decision om behalf of the Westminster City Council; said it was a test case which had been brought to decide the nature of vinegar. The sample was rehoeed from Tame's shop, ard whol analysed consisted of acetic and water, together with burnt sugar as colouring. His contention was that vinegar should be brewed, when it had a distinct and pleasant aroma, which synthetic vinegar did not possess: Purchasers should be irformed when they were receiving the synthetic substance after being asked to be supplied with -vinegar.
Expert evidertce was called on both sides; and it was agreed that acetic acid was easy to make and could be produced from coke.
Mr. Kenneth Swan, K.C. for the appellant, called a number of witnesstz to show that "table vinegar" was known in the trade as synthetic vinegar, and Mr. Leonard Dodman, governing director of the firm that supplied the vinegar in the case, said that during the 76 years the firm had existed they had not previously received a complaint He declared that between 80 to 90 per cent. of the vinegar trade was in the non-fermented or synthetic type.
The Chairman, in dismissing the appeal with 75 guineas costs, said the Committee were satisfied that if sold without qualification, it was implied that the substance sold as vinegar or table vinegar.was the product of fermentation. mutual understanding in many directions.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.