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(34)
Unsound Food.
Notwithstanding the fact that your officers are always on the
look-out to detect the sale of unwholseome food, we have only
made one important seizure in 1898; it was a large part of the
stock of a butcher, including several emaciated sheep that had
been suffering from tubercular disease, and other large pieces of
meat unfit for human consumption.
Some parts of the tubercular carcass had undoubtedly been
sold prior to the seizure.
The whole of this meat was conveyed to the Thames Police
Court and condemned by the Magistrate and afterwards destroyed.
The facts of the case were investigated by your Committee
and a prosecution decided on. The owner, when he was
made aware of the intention of the Vestry, absconded. A
warrant was applied for his arrest, but he has not been heard of
up to the present time.
This case, gentlemen, was a most flagrant one, as the offender
had been warned by your officers twelve months previously, and
judging by the low prices paid for these animals together with
their emaciated appearance and loss of weight in the sheep, it was
clear to my mind he was aware of their diseased condition.
Although the offender escaped unpunished, we have the satisfaction
of knowing that the meat was destroyed instead of endangering
the lives of would-be purchasers.
I am happy to report that there are now no manufacturers of
doubtful tinned meat goods in our district.