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(e) That copies of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded to the President
of the Local Government Board and the President of the Board of
Agriculture.
Preserved
Foods.
112. The following resolutions, which were passed by the
Society of Medical Officers of Health on the subject
of tinned and preserved foods, were considered
by the Council, viz. :—
That in the opinion of the Metropolitan Branch of the Incorporated
Society of Medical Officers of Health, 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) That the name and address of the manufacturer and the date
of canning should 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 should be the duty of any
person in possession of unsound canned foods to notify and surrender
same to the local authority, who should destroy such unsound food
free of charge.
(3) A certain number of tins (say one per cent.) from each consignment
should 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" should be
deemed to be unfit for human consumption.
(5) Food intended for canning should be inspected by independent
officials prior to being canned, and all foods should be canned under
strictly hygienic conditions.
(6) In the opinion of the Branch, the use of preservatives in
canned food is unnecessary and should under no circumstances be
permitted.
113. The Council were informed that such resolutions had
been forwarded to the Local Government Board, the Board of
Agriculture, the London County Council, and the City and
Borough Councils. The Council agreed with the resolutions except
with regard to the number of tins opened, which the Council
was of opinion Should not be so great as one per cent., and communications
were addressed to the Local Government Board, the
Board of Agriculture, and the London County Council in support
thereof. The Council also supported the suggestion of the Poplar
Borough Council that local sanitary authorities should have the