London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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City of London 1923

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]

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56
fresh. Argentina supplied approximately 76 per cent. of the amount, Uruguay
supplied 9 per cent., Australia 7 per cent. frozen, New Zealand 6 per cent. frozen,
and the balance was supplied by the United States of America, Denmark and
other countries.
The amount of canned meats, extracts, tongues, etc., amounted to 50,000 tons.
The imports of mutton and lamb were 1,167 tons more than in 1922 and 26,687
tons more than in 1913.
Of the total, New Zealand supplied approximately 40 per cent., Argentina
30 per cent., Australia 22 per cent., the balance being supplied by "Other Countries."
3,462 tons of sheep's offals and 1,544 tons of canned mutton, tongues, etc.,
were also imported.
The imports of pork show a record, there being an increase of 17,563 tons over
the amount for 1922. There were considerable increases in the Danish and United
States of America supplies.
The imports of bacon also constitute a record, the amount being 389,657 tons—
an increase of 93,049 tons over that of 1922 and 146,763 tons compared with the
figures for 1913.
The United States of America sunnlied 92 Der cent, of the trade in hams.

The amount of food which passed through the Central Markets, Smithfield, during the year 1923, forms a record in the history of the Market, there being an increase of 7,326 tons over the amount for 1922.

* Origin.1923. Tons.1822. Tons.Difference. Tons.
Britain and Ireland93,07587,820+5,255
Australasia105,151128,00822,857
North America13,64116,2542,613
South America213,429186,189+27,240
Holland and other countries45,10544,804+301
Totals470,401463,075+7,326
Description:—
BEEF.British43,51438,702+4,812
Imported219,783213,219+6,564
MUTTON.British19,20920,196987
Imported115,065121,8426,777
PORK.British14,11811,900+2,218
Imported27,30327,38380
POULTRY, etc.British16,23417,022788
Imported15,17512,811+2,364
Totals470,401463,075+7,326

*. Kindly supplied by the Market Superintendent.
Of the total amount of imports into this country, 34.3 per cent. of the beef,
39.2 per cent. of the mutton and 53.5 per cent. of the pork passed through the
Markets. The amount of meat gf all classes which is deposited in the City Cold
Stores and from there sent direct to shops, the amounts sold in Leadenhall and
Aldgate Markets, are not included in the above figures, if they are over the half
of all the meats imported during 1923 passed under the supervision of the City
Sanitary Authority.
The quality of the British meat supplied was on the average good. Owing to the
extensive outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease a considerable quantity of meat
from animals which had been compulsorily slaughtered appeared on the Market
and was sold at low prices. The number of animals killed will tend to keep up the
price of home-fed meat, especially as fewer Canadian cattle have arrived than was
anticipated. The percentages of home-fed meat on the Market were beef 16.5,
mutton 14.3 and pork 33.1.
Holland continues to supply the bulk of our pork trade. Judging from the
amount of diseased home killed meat surrendered or seized in the Markets, there
appears to be no improvement in the inspection of meat in country districts.
Some of the consignments were so obviously diseased that the consigners must have
known that the meat was in a doubtful condition, but they did not trouble to have
it inspected at the place of slaughter. A number of prosecutions were instituted
against offenders.