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A copy of the report presented, together with full particulars as to
the vessels in which the food was put up, labels, &c., was forwarded to
Dr. Buchanan.
The Metropolitan Branch of the Incorporated Society of Medical
Officers of Health passed the following resolutions on the subject, and
they were also adopted by the City Council:—
" That it is necessary, in order to secure better protection for the
public in regard to tinned and preserved foods, that legislation should
be passed embodying the following important reforms ":—
1. The name and address of the manufacturer and the date of
canning shall be impressed on the cans.
2. It shall be unlawful to sell for any purpose canned goods that are
unfit for human consumption, and it shall be the duty of any
person in possession of unsound canned foods to notify and
surrender same to the local authority, who shall destroy such
unsound food free of charge.
3. A certain number of tins (say 1 per cent.) from each consignment
shall be opened on importation and the contents examined
under the supervision or instructions of the Sanitary Authority
concerned, prior to such canned foods being placed on the
market.
4. Tins which are known in the trade as "doubtfuls" shall be
deemed to be unfit for human consumption.
5. Food intended for canning shall be inspected by independent
officials prior to being canned, and all foods shall be canned
under strictly hygienic conditions.
6. In the opinion of the branch, the use of preservatives in canned
foods is unnecessary, and should under no circumstances be
permitted.
The importance of leaving the date of canning on the tins has been
emphasised by a report made by Dr. Buchanan on a large consignment
of beef essence returned from South Africa, where it had been for some
years. Although sterile, the contents had undergone changes which
entirely altered their food value.
It has also been found that manufacturers do not always place their
names on the cans, and there is, therefore, a difficulty in tracing their
source of origin.
Tinned Vegetables and Fruit.—Sixty-three samples were taken
as shown on list, and, except peas and spinach, were found free from
adulteration. Both peas and spinach show a marked improvement in
the amount of copper now added to them; only 2 samples out of 28 of
peas, and 8 out of 11 of spinach showing copper above the limit. In a
number of instances no copper had been added at all.