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50
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of
The Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
During the year 1955, 400 samples of foods and drugs were examined.
Of these 220 were taken formally and 180 informally.

These figures show that food in Chelsea is slightly better than last
year.
A sample of Canned Beef Steak with Gravy contained only 64 per cent.
of total meat. Canned beaf steak with gravy must contain not less than
75 percent. of meat and this samples was, therefore, 14.6 per cent.
deficient in meat. An interview was arranged in order to discuss the
matter with the importers, who accepted our standard, and agreed that it
is unnecessary for public analysts to rely on a Statutory Instrument when
fixing a standard, In this particular case the standard for canned stewed
steak with gravy was laid down in the Meat Products No. 2 Order, 1952, which
was later revoked, but public analysts in this country are relying on most
of the standards given in this Order, and propose to continue to rely on then
where they believe them to be practicable.
Another sample of Stewed Steak with Gravy contained only 69 per cent.
of total meat and was therefore also deficient in meat. The manufacturers
stated that no more of this product would be coming into the country from
Australia.
Some stuffed Pork Roll was considered to have a misleading label. It
contained 54 per cent. of total meat and although the illustration on the
label showed that the outer portion was a kind of Pork Luncheon Meat a
purchaser would not expect to find such a high total percentage of filling
material. It was considered that the total meat in a product of this type
should be at least the same as that of a pork sausage, i.e., 65 per cent.
The manufacturers agreed that the product should have been sold as a stuffed
Pork and Meat Roll.
A sample labelled "Beef Curry with Rice" was deficient in meat. It
contained not more than 24 per cent. of meat,-assuming all the nitrogen in
the rice and in the yeast extract added as a flavouring to be present as a
meat constituent. The ingredients were also disclosed in the wrong order.
The manufacturers replied that only a small quantity of this product had
placed on the market for trial purposes, and agreed eventually to increase
the meat content to approximately 40 per cent. and to amend the label.