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There were a number of labelling offences taken up with importers and
producers. Two consignments of frozen cooked prawns were detained and returned
to the Malaysian producers due to excessive bacterial plate counts.
Much of the imported foodstuffs is by direct or indirect importation in
containers. The associated problems are now gradually being ironed out, but
there will always be a weakness in the examination system at point of entry
as an incident in the area shows
A consignment of prepared meat in gravy from an approved source was
brought in a "cleared" container to a distrubution warehouse and on "unstuffing"
many cartons were found to contain blown cans. The Food Inspector investigated
this and samples showed the causative organism to be Clostridium Perfringens
(Welchii) a serious food poisoner Had the journey from source not been five
weeks, time enough for all cans with this organism present to incubate and
cause blowing this would have been disastrous as the cans were of catering
size for use on re-heating as pie filling, The Port of Entry and the Veterinary
Office of the country's representatives in London were immediately informed
and all consignments carefully examined with an investigation into slaughtering
and processing method at the canning factory.
Analysis of Food and Drugs Samples
During the year 945 samples of food and drugs were submitted for analysis
by the Public Analyst, 17 being purchased formally, 908 informally, and 20
were private samples. Irregular samples ascertained numbered 134.
Legal proceedings were instituted in respect of the following;-
Pork chipolatas which were in a stale condition; fried chicken and chips
which had been wrapped in printed matter; sliced bread which contained ferrous
metal and rust; Cornish pasties which showed evidence of bacteria] growths,
unfit for consumption- lemonade which contained budding yeast cells.
Matters taken up with manufacturers or importers included macaroons
having a soapy taste; rust particles in a loaf of bread; fruit yoghourt
containing high levels of benzoic acid; food colour containing Ponceau MX which
has recently been removed from the permitted 1 ist; flour containing incorrect
proportions of Creta Preparata; margarine having a moisture content in excess
of that permitted by the Margarine Regulations buttered rolls spread witha
mixture of butter and margarine a piece of leather in a bottle of milk;
pickled herring found to be decomposing (the complainant had purchased this in
Amsterdam); table salt containing the contents of a cold cure capsule,
which appeared to be due to accidental contamination in the home; chewing gum
containing Ponceau SX, a non-permitted food colour (this was found to have been
manufactured in Mexico at least six years previously, the importers having
long since gone out of business); strawberries containing Ponceau MX - these had
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