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Also, 459 containers and 6l¾ lbs. of various foodstuffs were surrendered after
a fire at a food shop in the Borough, condemned and destroyed.
Imported Beef
For a period early in the year refrigerated railway vans containing beef
imported by train ferry from Yugoslavia were transferred as an emergency measure
from Bishopsgate Goods Station to a railway siding at Spitalfields in this Borough where
unloading took place on several occasions under the supervision of a Public Health Inspector
and a Customs officer. The beef was unloaded by meat porters from Smithfield and
transferred to motor vans for conveyance to Smithfield Meat Market.
Discussion took place with railway and Customs officials on the subject of
making the Spitalfields siding more suitable for this traffic and necessary improvements
were agreed and plans submitted but the required structural alterations had not been
commenced by the end of the year. Since the summer these meat discharges have been
diverted for the time being to Bishopsgate Goods Station in the Borough of Stepney.
Imported Horsemeat
During the latter part of the year notification was received from the Medical
Officer of Health of the Port and City of London that the majority of the horsemeat imported
from the Argentine had been found as a result of sampling to be contaminated with Salmonel
organisms. One wholesale firm in the borough imports large quantities of such horsemeat
all of which is disposed of to retail pet shops and kennels for animal food only. Under the
Meat (Staining and Sterilization) Regulations, 1960, all such meat must be sterilized before
release and accordingly arrangements were made for this firm to send consignments of the
meat to the Government Atomic Research Station at Harwell for irradiation treatment and
subsequent return to the firm's premises for distribution for animal feeding.
Food and Drugs Act
Mr. H.A. Parkes, B.Sc., F.R.I.C. of 161, Bow Road, E.3, is Public
Analyst for the Borough.
Out of a total of 164 samples (16 formal and 148 informal) examined by
the Public Analyst during 1961, 7 samples were found to be adulterated, 2 formal and
5 informal.