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I reported the result of the examination to the Medical Officer
of Health, who accompanied me to the wharf and personally inspected
the flour. Dr. Miilson agreed that the nature of the damage was
such as to render the flour unfit for human food, and ordered a
certificate to be sent to the wharfingers, enumerating the defects,
and stating, at their request, that whilst the flour was unfit for
for human consumption, it might be permitted to be used in the
manufacture of cattle food, provided that the owners would inform
us as to its destination so that we might satisfy ourselves as to its
ultimate disposal.
In consequence of that certificate a letter was received on the
2nd instant from Messrs. Grimsdale & Sons, Ltd., 2, Catherine
Court, Seething Lane, E,C., stating that they had purchased the
consignment for use at their cake mills, Uxbridge, for manufacturing
into cattle food, and asking for its release so that the same might be
handed over to the Uxbridge Authorities for supervision.
According to instructions from the Medical Officer of Health, I
went to Uxbridge, and found out that Messrs. Grimsdale were
ordinary flour millers doing a large business with flour used in the
making of bread as well as cakes for cattle food. In an interview
with the Medical Officer of Health for Uxbridge, Dr. J. Lewis Lock,
he assured me that the firm was a very respectable one, and he had
no doubt but that the flour would be converted into cattle food only.
If necessary he could get a guarantee from the firm that such would
be the case. On my enquiry as to the likelihood of the flour being
mixed with other flour and sold for human food, Dr. Lock gave me
to understand that he could only rely on Messrs. Grimsdale & Sons
honesty. There was nothing to prevent them mixing it with flour
for human food provided it was not too markedly foul.
Afterwards I saw Mr. Grimsdale at the Old Corn Exchange,
E.C. and in conversation with him on the matter he said we could
rely on them using it only mixed with other ingredients in the
manufacture of pigs' food. Questioned as to its being coloured so
that—whilst retaining its nutritive quality—it could not be sold or
used as ordinary flour for household purposes, Mr. Grimsdale said
that any kind of colouring would reduce its commercial value to such
an extent as to render it practically useless.
Jno. A. Eobinson,
Meat and Food Inspector.