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89
Canned Stewed Steak.—In September, a consignment of 1,854
tins, each 6| lbs., of Stewed Steak was landed, ex s.s. "City of Hull"
at Palmer's Wharf from South Africa. On examination approximately
three per cent of the tins were found to be blown or in a state
of advanced decomposition, or otherwise unfit. Six samples,
apparently sound tins, were submitted for bacteriological examination
and three produced anaerobic spore-bearing organisms of the
Clostridium group ; two cans were sterile and one can produced
Bac. cereus. These results suggested that the steak had been underprocessed
and accordingly they were held under " Stop Notice "
for further investigation.
The Senior Trade Commissioner for South Africa, on his own
behalf, arranged for bacteriological examination of a representative
sample, and a further 12 tins were examined for the Health Department
by an independent laboratory. The South African samplings
were reported as negative but one of our further samples had a slight
growth of Clostridium.
After careful consultation with the Bacteriologists and considerable
correspondence between South Africa and this department we
decided to release the consignment but impressed upon the South
African Bureau of Standards our concern about the matter.
No complaints were subsequently received about the tins.
Merchandise Marks Act, 1926.—Under the powers conferred
by this Act, Orders in Council have been made prohibiting the sale
or exposure for sale of imported foodstuffs unless bearing an indication
of the country of origin. Two hundred and fifty-four inspections
were made to secure compliance with the various Orders but
on no occasion was it found necessary to take action against Vendors.
Blackheath Fair.—At Easter, Whitsun and the August Bank
Holiday, many thousands of Londoners from this and adjacent
Boroughs once again availed themselves of the opportunity of
making a visit to this source of entertainment.
Constant supervision of refreshment stalls, etc., was necessary
to ensure that a safe standard of cleanliness was maintained by the
vendors and to this end a Food Inspector was always in attendance.
Section 16 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, which previously
had required the stallholder's name and address to be clearly
displayed on his stall has now been replaced by Regulation 26 of the