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57
2 Do. (tuberculous) 3,080 lbs. dates
3 pigs' plucks ( do. ) 640 lbs. tomatoes
9 sheep's livers (echinococcus 55 lbs. pears
veterinorum) 40 lbs. plums
Pair bullock's lights (tuberculous) 1 basket oranges
Most of the turkeys and geese and some of the meat and pork were surrendered
on Christmas Eve at a Mission Hall in Lisson Grove to which they had been sent
for distribution amongst the members of a Xmas Club formed by a number of poor
people in the neighbourhood.
The fact that the food was not in a condition quite fit for consumption was
discovered accidently by one of the district inspectors, and a complete examination
was made of the whole consignment. This consisted of a large number of turkeys
and geese, and joints of beef and pork, and quite a fair proportion were found to be
in an unsatisfactory condition.
That they were in this condition seemed to be to some extent due to the fact
that they had been delivered at the mission hall on the day preceding the examination
and had been improperly stored. Because this seemed to be the explanation it was
decided instead of seizing the goods in the manner laid down in Section 47 of the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891, to accept surrender of a 1 that appeared to be
unfit for food and to destroy them. The vendor was most anxious that this course
should be adopted and willingly undertook to bear the whole cost.
On the facts being reported to the Public Health Committee, they approved the
action that had been taken, and gave instructions that a strong letter of caution should
be sent to the vendor concerned.
In this case, though those responsible for the formation of the club saw that the
contributors, who could not be provided with the food for which they had paid,
received their contributions back, it is certain that many were greatly disappointed,
and were put to a great deal of inconvenience.
There is no doubt that if the unsound articles had been distributed, most of them
would have been cooked and eaten, and effects more or less serious would have been
produced in those who had shared in them.
In order to prevent the possibility of unsound food being distributed in this way
in future, it is proposed to make arrangments each Xmas for examinations to be
made of all meat and poultry on delivery by the vendors at Xmas Clubs.
The number of articles seized and dealt with in the manner described in Section
47 of the Act of 1891, was considerably smaller than in the previous year. This is
taken to be the result of the careful work done in the past, and to the recognition by
vendors of the fact that the Council are determined to prevent the sale of food which
is not in all respects fit for human consumption.
The articles seized were :—
Seizures.
Quantity of Tomatoes (unsound)
Do. Brawn ( do. )