View report page

23
retained the article beyond the acceptable period, or stored it in adverse conditions. There is really
little excuse for this—many firms who manufacture perishable products go to some lengths to inform
their retailers by descriptive leaflets of the dangers of ordering more stock than can usefully be stored
and sold, and give excellent advice on the handling and serving of perishable commodities. Advice
on stock rotation of coding is often given and it is obviously in the interests of the shopkeeper to
follow some such scheme. Unfortunately, some still fail to do so, and complaints to the Department
result.
During the year, 191 complaints were received from members of the public alleging foodstuffs
purchased at retail shops were unfit for one reason or another.
All these were investigated and appropriate action taken. The following provide a note of interest:-
A tin of salmon purchased was alleged by the complainant to contain a piece of glass. Examination
of the "glass" proved it to be a piece of transparent bone.
A buttered bun was found to contain a piece of glass. The bakery company, and the local authority
in whose area the bakery was situated, both investigated this matter, but failed to discover how the
glass came to be present. The bakery equipment was of modern design, and no similar glass to that
found in the bun could be found in use at the bakery. It is possible that it may have been embedded
in the dried fruit products received in the bakery.
Foreign matter found at the base of a bottle of milk was in the opinion of the Public Analyst, charred
milk solids due, he thought, to a more or less empty milk bottle having been placed on a stove or
electric heater.
A cooked chicken sold from retail premises was found to be affected by mould growth. Enquiry
revealed that the chicken concerned had been cooked on a Saturday morning, kept in the shop
throughout the weekend, and sold on the Monday following. This was contrary to standing orders
issued by the Company, and the necessary measures were taken to prevent a recurrence.
A tin of corned beef on being opened by the purchaser was found to be unsound. Examination
revealed severe dents on both side panels, which had caused the tin plate to rupture in two places.
These breaks in the tin plate would naturally lead to decomposition soon after the damage occurred.
The Company concerned stated that they, in common with other producers of canned food made
every effort to avoid damage to cans whilst in their possession. They were also constantly reviewing
and testing the carton design in an effort to protect their products from physical damage which might
occur during transit.
A loaf was found to contain a piece of wire mesh. Enquiry of the bakers revealed that they were
aware that damage to the machinery in use had occurred during a bread making session, and
immediately took precautionary measures. A large amount of dough was destroyed; flour in the
baking system was drawn off and returned to the flour mill; a supervisor was stationed at the
slicing machine to inspect bread which was produced relative to the time of the breakdown; some
900 loaves were destroyed. In spite of these precautions, a piece of disintegrated wire mesh
remained in some dough, and apparently passed the slicing machine. It was felt that the Company
had taken reasonable precautions in an endeavour to ensure that loaves leaving the bakery were free
of "foreign material", and in these circumstances no further action was taken apart from an admonitory
letter to the firm concerned.
Dirt alleged to be present in confectionery was found to consist of charred sugar, probably due to
localized burning of the boiling pan. The sweet had been sucked, and the complainant thought her
daughter's subsequent indisposition had some association.
Food Sampling
During the year 1,722 samples were submitted to the Public Analyst for chemical analyses; of this
number 141 (8.2%) were reported on adversely, and included the following:—
A sample of sauerkraut with sausage, submitted informally, was found to contain a piece of wooden
skewer, attached to one of the sausages. In addition, the label was incorrect as the ingredients of the
sausage were not stated. The product was of foreign origin, and the Sales Manager of the importers
visited the factory concerned but no indication as to the possible source of contamination was
discovered.
Macaroni and veal in savoury sauce manufactured by a well-known firm was reported as having
failed to meet the standard as to meat content as recommended in the Report of the Food Standards
Committee for Canned Meat Products, published in 1962, wherein a meat content of 35 per cent,
was recommended, for this type of product. This recommendation, although having no force in law,