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making Christmas puddings. Solutions of a number of samples
of sugar from this warehouse were tested and the filter pads were
in several cases almost black in colour and exhibited appreciable
quantities of grit and dirt. The smell was offensive and the sugar
was consequently seized and taken before a magistrate who
subsequently condemned it and ordered its destruction. The
Public Analyst certified the presence of 1.35% of coarse insoluble
matter, mostly sand, and the bacteriological report showed it to
contain B. Welchii in 0.1 gm., streptococci in 0.1 gm., and coliform
bacilli in 1 gm.; a total count of 400 organisms in 1 gm. Arising
out of this seizure there followed a prosecution on the 1st and
15th February, 1938, at Tower Bridge Police Court. Professor
John Eyre gave evidence on behalf of the Council, supporting
the views of the Public Analyst and the Bacteriologist. The
defendants were represented by counsel but the magistrate found
that the sugar was unfit for food and a fine of £20 was imposed,
costs of £52.10.0 being awarded to the Council.
The third matter to which I wish to draw attention concerns
canned apples. A consignment consisting of 3,000 cartons, each
carton containing six ten pound tins of canned apples, was landed
in May, 1937. When examined these goods appeared to be sound.
Owing to fluctuations in the market price, or for some other reason,
these goods were not immediately sold and in October it appeared
that the contents of some of the tins were fermenting. The owner
arranged for the whole of the consignment to be sorted and 613
cartons of blown tins were placed under stop. The owner however
would not accept the contention that the contents of these tins
were unsound merely because external examination showed that
the containers were blown. He argued that the contents were
quite wholesome and stated that he could easily dispose of them
to restaurants. He opened several blown tins in my presence and I
agreed with him that so far as it was possible to tell by looking at
the contents and by smelling and tasting them, the apples appeared
to be wholesome.
It was suggested that the apples might be used for making
jam and as we have more than one firm of jam manufacturers in the