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107
UNSOUND FOOD RETURNED FROM SOUTH AFRICA.
On the 27th November, 1906, a visit was paid to some auction rooms in
Barbican and samples taken from a consignment of Essence of Beef, returned
from South Africa, catalogued for public sale. Two of these samples were
submitted to the Public Analyst, who, on the 6th December, certified them to
contain .037 and .039 per cent. of tin respectively, equivalent to 2.59 and
2.73 grains of tin per pound.
A number of these tins were then opened, and the contents found to be in
an abnormal condition owing to deterioration by age and climatic influences.
These facts, coupled with the large proportion of tin present rendering the
material quite unfit for the purpose for which they are largely used, viz., as
food for invalids, the owner was informed that the whole consignment would
be seized for destruction. To this he readily assented, and the stuff was
removed and destroyed as trade refuse in the usual manner.
These tins were notable as showing externally no signs of decomposition,
and might, therefore, have been sold in the ordinary course of business as
being in sound condition.
In a Report presented in November last to the Local Government Board,
Dr. Buchanan directs attention to the liability of such goods to become
metallically contaminated when kept for a considerable time, but in this
connexion it is satisfactory to read in Dr. Buchanan's Report that" the trade
"custom in this country makes it extremely unlikely that tins of Beef
"Essence remain in stock on the premises of middlemen or retailers (even in
"country districts) for more than a few months. Their practice of supplying
"their customers with fresh material at frequent intervals appears to have
"been adopted for trade convenience, and not on account of any suspicion that
"the essence may become unsound if kept too long. Changes in the
"appearance of meat essences, such as those observed in the samples returned
"from South Africa, are said to be quite unusual in the ordinary experience
"of manufacturers and retailers in this country. The firm in question has
"now adopted the praiseworthy precaution of stamping the date of manu.
"facture on the wrapper of every tin of meat essence which they issue. They
"have also circulated to their customers information as to certain differences
"in outside appearance between tins of recent manufacture and those made a
"few years ago, which would enable British dealers or traders readily to
"recognise essences returned from South Africa, should such be offered
"to them."
Dr. Schryver, who made chemical analysis of such meat essences, states in
the Report referred to above: "If products of the nature of meat extracts