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Portuguese Chinchards. —A consignment of 7,789 cases of Chinchards
comprising ten different marks was landed at Chambers Wharf ex
the S.S. " Omlandia."
Two samples were submitted for analysis, and the Public Analyst
reported that —
" upon emptying the cans it would seem that small metallic
particles came away with the scale of the fish skin."
The metallic contamination in each sample was well below the limit.
The consignment was detained and the importer notified. Some
deliveries had already been made and therefore the Medical Officer
of Health of the district to which they had gone was notified of the
condition of the Chinchards, the name and address of the merchant,
and the quantity sent to that district.
Eight more samples, one from each of the remaining marks,
were submitted to the Analyst, and as a result of his reports it was
decided to release 3,147 cases of Chinchards.
On December 7th I met the importer, who suggested that the
condition was due to the tins being overpacked and the contents
scorched during the processing. This contention was borne out
by the reports of the Public Analyst and in no case was the metallic
contamination excessive.
The importer stated that the goods had already been paid for
and were worth approximately £20,000, and they would probably
lose this sum if the goods were destroyed.
I came to the conclusion that as the metallic contamination was
so low, no possible harm from metal poisoning could come to a person
consuming the fish, and I therefore agreed to release these goods
for sale. It was considered that although the fish might be unsaleable,
it was not unfit for food. I pointed out to the importer, however,
that he might experience some trouble from other Local Authorities
who might not consider the goods suitable for sale. Subsequently
quite a considerable proportion of these Chinchards were returned
to the importer as unsaleable.
French pork.—On April 7th a consignment of about 10 tons of
French Pork Sides came into the Bricklayers Arms Depot addressed
to the Ministry of Food. This importation appeared to be contrary
to the provisions of the Importation of Carcases (Prohibition) Order,
1926 (S.R. & O. 1926, No. 574 of the Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries), and the meat was not accompanied by any recognised
Official Certificate as required by the Public Health (Imported Food)
Regulations, 1937/48 (Circular No. 1690, 30th March, 1938).
I therefore wrote to the Ministry of Food pointing out that I
naturally did not wish to take any action which would prevent sound
food from coming into the country at the present time, and asking
for information on the matter. In reply I was informed that an