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of Food in April, 1949. Caseous lymphadenitis is more
common in imported South American mutton and sheep than in
Australian and New Zealand mutton. From time to time,
quantities of imported mutton are delivered to Middletons
Cold Store, Wapping. A detention notice is served under
the Public Health (Imported Food) Regulations, 1937, and a
5 per cent. examination is carried out and the prescapular,
superficial-inguinal, supra-mammary and precrural lymphatic
glands of sheep are incised and examined as routine. No
carcases have been condemned as a result of this examination
during the year.
Since 1st May, 1948, it has been found that a more
thorough examination of the associated lymphatic glands in
South American mutton has teen made by the exporting
countries. Several carcases have had either one of the
prescapular or one of the precrural lymphatic glands removed,
but on a detailed examination, in accordance with
Memo 62 and Memo 62B Foods, no evidence of disease has been
found in these carcases or the other lymphatic glands, and
the meat has been released for human consumption.
A total of 619 carcases were examined during the year
but none were condemned as unfit for human consumption.
Food Salvage.
The methods of food salvage in operation since the
early days of the war were changed by the disbanding of the
Ministry of Food Salvage Division on 30th September, 1948.
As a result, the Food Salvage Order came into force on 1st
October, whereby such goods are handled through certain
wholesale grocers and food manufacturers who have registered
with the Ministry of Food as salvage dealers. Some 14 firms
of this kind in Stepney are so registered. One firm in
particular has engaged in salvaged food extensively, handling
most of the returned ships' food stores from the ports of
London and Southampton, food coming into the possession of
the Metropolitan Commissioner of Police and also goods from
the Railway Executive. This has necessitated the inspection
of considerable quantities of food of various kinds and a
good deal of time has been devoted to this work. It may be
interesting to mention the classification applied when
inspecting salvage goods, which is:-
(a) Fit for human consumption.
(b) Fit for human consumption after treatment or processing.
(c) Suitable for manufacturing purposes for human food,
or for catering trade.
(d) Unfit for human consumption and suitable for animal
food or manufacturing purposes other than for human
food.
(e) Fit for destruction only.
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