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68
In the neighbourhood of the Smithfield Meat Market there are a
considerable number of wholesale butchers and offal shops, bacon factories,
wholesale bacon and provision warehouses, poultry, game and
rabbit shops and Public Cold Air Stores, all of which are regularly
inspected.
From the time of the war until 1954 meat and similar foodstuffs
were controlled by the Ministry of Food and many of the larger ware
houses were taken over by the Minister for the bulk storage of foodstuffs.
In many of these premises large stocks of foodstuffs were
stored, all of which came under the supervision of the meat inspector.
Thousands of tons of Continental and Scandinavian offals and
tinned hams were imported into the Borough by private traders under
licence from the Ministry of Food. In many cases condemnation of
these foodstuffs took place either as a result of decomposition or
faulty sterilization.
In June 1954, the Minister relinquished control of these articles
and trading reverted to the type carried on before the war. Wholesale
butchers and offal premises were re-opened mostly for the sale of
old cow and bull beef for manufacturing purposes. Due to the nature
of these carcases a rigid inspection is maintained to ensure that
diseased meat is not passed on to the public.
Since 1946 approximately 581,000 carcases of imported frozen
mutton and lamb have been examined for Caseous Lymphadenitis in the
Cold Air Stores. These carcases are slightly defrosted before
examination and where a diseased carcase is found, it is adjudicated
upon and either the whole or part of the carcase is condemned. The
presence of the diseased lesion has been found to be as high as 15 per
cent in some consignments.
From time to time bags of frozen Australian briskets of beef were
imported into the Borough and on examination about 8 per cent. were
found to contain a 'worm nodule', the Onchocerca Gibsoni.
During the last 10 years 492 certificates (including 77 in 1955)
have been issued for the export of sausage casings, meat essence and
bacon.
During the period 1946 to date, several different firms contracted
to undertake the disposal and collection of unsound meat and
food condemned in the Borough During 1955 the contractors were
Messrs Hanson & Burbidge, Ltd.
The meat inspector has regularly visited and inspected the 36
retail butcher shops and 4 meat stalls in the Borough. In 1955 2,348
visits were paid.