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52
renders attempts to control wastage difficult. Faulty and careless
packing at source; exposure of food to contaminating
influences either in store, whilst for sale, or in transit; unsuitable
storage place (e.g., dampness and faulty temperature or lack of
refrigeration), and controlled foodstuffs after lengthy storage
unsold, probably due to the housewives' points having given out.
If this latter factor prevails, the less popular products for sale
might well be decontrolled before staleness or other decontaminating
influences render food unsaleable.

The foregoing were submitted for bacteriological tests in
pursuance of investigations into various cases of intestinal
disturbances reported during the year. The unsatisfactory
conditions found were not so bacterially contaminated as to
give rise to serious food poisoning, but in most cases bacteriological
contamination was the probable cause of illnesses. The
Department is indebted to Dr. R. Hutchinson of the Ministry
of Health Pathological Laboratory, Buckston Browne Farm,
Downe, for her invaluable investigations and reports on these
specimens.