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33
After boiling a tinned steak and kidney pudding, an unpleasant odour and taste were alleged. A
small piece of the contents was retained and submitted to the Public Analyst who reported as
follows:-
"The sample was made up of portions of coarse muscle fibre, cartilage and pastry. On boiling
it up with water, the odour was not unpleasant, but was meaty and could have been slightly spicy.
Chemical tests failed to reveal any toxic ingredient and there were no foreign substances.
Feeding tests on experimental animals were quite satisfactory. If there was anything present
with a strong smell, it might have disappeared between opening the can and receiving the sample,
but tests failed to find any grounds for the complaint, and no harm would ensue from eating this
steak and kidney pudding."
This analysis is quoted in full to illustrate the extent of the tests which are made following a
complaint of this nature. Not only is this a substantial public service, but also it serves to allay
fears often expressed by members of the public concerning matters relating to food which is in fact
quite sound and fit for human consumption, thus restoring confidence which might otherwise have
been destroyed.
A pint of Channel Island milk contained a cap from another bottle through some inadvertence
at the filling plant. The bottling Company concerned have country-wide interests and in London
alone fill some three million bottles of milk and cream daily. Milk distributors take elaborate
precautions in an endeavour to eliminate the imperfectly washed bottle, or bottles containing
"foreign matter", and employ "spotters" whose sole job is to examine bottles which have passed
through the washing and sterilising plant and before they pass on the conveyor belt to the bottle
filling room. Inevitably, due to the human element complaints do arise, but the percentage received
by the Company is said to be less than four per million bottles. The bottles of course, on their
passage through the plant prior to filling are washed and sterilised in several processes, and whilst
this does not mitigate the seriousness of a bottle arriving in the hands of the customer in an
unsatisfactory condition, it does ensure that the bottle is in a sterile condition and free from harmful
bacteria before being filled with milk. The matter in question was dealt with by cautionary action.
Margarine when opened by the purchaser was found to be affected with a dark stain which
analysis showed to consist of growths of mould belonging to the genus penicillium. Enquiries
at the retail premises—a firm with branches throughout the United Kingdom—and also of the
packers, revealed that the margarine had been packed some six months previously. The defect
appeared to have arisen through insufficient care being exercised in the storage of the particular
pack. Others of the same batch number in stock were satisfactory. A cautionary letter was sent to
the retailers.
Bars of chocolate purchased from a confectioners turned out to be dummy bars used in window
displays. The complainant had returned with them to the shop and alleged that on pointing out the
error he received abuse. This Department hears from time to time of complainants who in
good faith take back foodstuffs of doubtful fitness to the place of purchase only to be met with a
storm of denial and recrimination which infuriates them and does nothing to remedy the situation.
Complaints are received occasionally that rabbit instead of chicken has been served as part of
a meal. It must escape the attention of persons who make these complaints that in recent years
rabbit has been twice the price of chicken, and it is unlikely from a standpoint of economics alone
that it would be used in substitution for chicken. Complaints are seldom now received alleging
the use of horseflesh for meat dishes, but this relic of the wartime era still occasionally occurs.
Complaints of foodstuffs affected with mould growth again occupied the usual amount of
inspectors' time. This occurs particularly during humid weather, and with a little forethought and
care, usually on the part of the retailer, many of the cases need not have occurred. One complaint
related to a chocolate roll which was found to be five weeks old. There was obviously a gross
dereliction in the stock control rotation, and the Company was cautioned that any further incident
could lead to legal proceedings.
A tin of sardines labelled as containing olive oil actually contained tomato sauce. Due to an
inadvertence at the factory a batch of tins had been wrongly labelled. This is an unusual occurrence,
and the Company took steps to avoid a repetition.
A bee found baked in a loaf purchased at premises in Westminster resulted in an investigation
at the bakery (not in Westminster) by the local authority of the area in which it was situated.
Major reconstruction works had been in progress at the bakery for some months, and these had
necessitated a large opening being made in the external walls to permit entry of building materials,