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same bulk of curry powder often gave different, results, as the
lead content was unevenly distributed, and the manufacturers
had requested the Ministry to agree that no prosecution
should take place unless the lead content of curry powder is
in excess of 20 parts per million.
The Ministry had not reached any decision in this matter,
but suggested that a cautionary letter would meet this
particular case, and proceedings should be taken in the event
of further samples exceeding the permitted limit.
IMPORTED PEARS
On May 10th, 500 cases of pears arrived at Gravel Lane
from Italy, and on inspection some of the pears were found
to be contaminated with what appeared to be an arsenical spray.
The owners were asked to give an undertaking that the
contaminated pears would be suitably dealt with prior to sale,
but the next day a letter was received from them refusing to
give any undertaking whatever, and threatening proceedings
against me for loss of time in transit. Half of the consignment
was for a certain buyer in Dublin, and this portion was
immediately freed and the Medical Officer of Health for Dublin
notified of the condition.
The Public Analyst reported that the powder found on the
pears contained fairly heavy quantities of arsenic and lead—
much above the standard which would have been normally
passed—and the matter was placed before the magistrate in
order to obtain a decision concerning these contaminated
pears. He postponed the hearing until the following day when
the owner gave an undertaking to have the pears sorted at his
Portsmouth warehouse under the supervision of the Portsmouth
Medical Officer of Health.
On the 17th May I heard from the owner that the consignment
which had gone to Dublin had been held up owing to a
dock strike, and it was intended to bring these back once more
to Gravel Lane. They were received early on the morning of
May 19th, and were also forwarded to Portsmouth for sorting
under supervision.
It would appear that the owner, who suffered serious
financial loss two years ago when similar types of pears were
brought into the country, was anxious to make this a test
case, as he felt that the action taken caused undue delay in
transit, and that the material on the pears was quite harmless.
Under the Imported Food Regulations a Medical Officer of
Health has power to stop any Foodstuffs which he intends to
sample or place before a magistrate, for a period of 48 hours
or longer if agreement is come to with the owner.