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60
In the tabulated list of police court summonses will be seen statements
as to proceedings instituted in respect of seizures of bad
condensed milk, and the results are reported.
I suggested to the Sanitary Committee that it would be advisable to
point out to the importers and the wholesale houses the desirability
of having tins containing bad condensed milk destroyed altogether,
or removed by the Local Authority as trade refuse (more especially
as the importers and wholesale houses now pay to have it taken
away) and then there would be no possibility of it being used as
human food. I stated that it was manifestly wrong that the contents
of tins which have practically been given away for pig feeding or
manure should again find their way into the market. It is not only
detrimental to the public health, but it is bad from a monetary point
of view as it must interfere with the trade of the shopkeepers, and it
must also lessen the business of the wholesale houses and importers
of condensed milk.
The question was asked, is such milk fit for pig feeding ? but the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891, only relates to articles intended
for the food of man.
The Committee recommended that the various sanitary authorities
in London be asked to communicate the suggestion to wholesale
dealers in condensed milk in their districts.
On another occasion I reported for the information of the Committee
and general public, that it was rumoured that the contents of
blown tins containing unwholesome condensed milk, since the recent
prosecutions, are emptied into gallon jars and thus supplied to dishonest
pastry-cooks, &c. The opening of such tins and the pouring
into the jars take place near a pig stye, as if for pigs' food, in order
to throw the Officers of Local Authorities off their guard.