View report page

54
INSPECTION OF OFFAL.
The examination of offal presented many difficulties. It was usually
imported in the form of solid frozen blocks, so that it was not possible to
examine them even with a view of ascertaining that they were as described,
apart from the necessity of enquiring into their condition, and also to
ascertain whether there was any "scrap meat" contained therein.
As a temporary arrangement, pending a decision as to the most satisfactory
method of importing this offal, from the point of view of inspection, it was
dealt with on the results of a certain percentage examination, which was thawed
out for the purpose of inspection.
As an example of the necessity for this inspection, a vessel from the United
States of North America arrived on the 2nd February, 1909, with the following
consignment of offal:—
10 cases
100 „
100 „
50 „
50 „
19 „
50 „
250 „
25 „
ox-tongues.
ox-kidneys.
ox-livers.
ox-tails.
tripe.
lamb-sweetbreads.
lamb-livers.
lamb-plucks.
calves' tongues.
Amongst the consignment there were 250 boxes of plucks, of which 13
boxes were thawed out for examination. Each box contained 12 sheep-plucks,
and out of the 156, 16 of the livers and one of the lungs were found to be
diseased. This was a high percentage, and it was decided that a further 45
boxes of plucks must be examined. The result of this examination was that
45 livers and 3 lungs were found to be diseased.
It was thereupon decided not to allow the remainder to leave the dock until
it had been thawed out and thoroughly examined. Out of the balance of 192
cases of sheep-plucks (about 2,400 plucks) there were found to be diseased 528
sheep-livers and 130 of the lungs. These boxes bore an official label indicating
that they had been inspected and passed in the country of exportation.
Much correspondence and many interviews with shippers ensued on the
subject of packing offal, and the following procedure was finally adopted in the
case of livers:—
Five per cent. of the whole consignment was thawed out, and if any
were found diseased or unsound, a further 20 per cent. was thawed out,
and if not found satisfactory, then the whole consignment was thawed
and examined.