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V. INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD
During the year 29 samples of fruit and vegetables (14 English and
15 imported) were submitted for analyses for pesticide residues; all
revealed no evidence of such residues.
Samples of Italian and other imported canned tomato paste were
submitted for examination for the presence of excessive mould. In each
case the amount of the Howard Mould Count was under the permitted level
of mould in 50 per cent of fields. This is an example of the successful
procedure established to detain imports of this paste for analyses of
samples, as a result of which the manufacturers are now taking steps to
keep down the level of mould in their product.
On 5th December, 1964, Bishopsgate Goods Station was extensively
damaged by fire. This has terminated one of the important activities of
the food inspectors, namely the examination of foodstuffs imported from
the Continent, an activity which has spanned nearly forty years. Imported
fruit, vegetables, fresh and canned meats, bacon and other foodstuffs,
were all subject to inspection. It is too early to say where and when a
permanent railway depot to handle these imports will be built; at present
they are being dealt with at other depots.
Towards the end of the year, the London Board of Shechita, whose
tenancy of cattle slaughterhouses terminated at the Central Meat Market,
Islington, opened a Kosher Meat Depot at 54/56, Comercial Road. Cattle,
sheep and veal carcases, forequarters and offals are brought to the new
Depot from slaughterhouses at Beckton, Saffron Walden and Birkenhead, and
are handled by five meat wholesalers for distribution to London's Kosher
retail butchers. Routine visits are now made for the examination of the
meat and offals at the Depot and for compliance with the Food Hygiene
(General) Regulations 1960.
Three samples of imported groundnuts in shell were taken during the
year for analysis for aflotoxin and were found to be free from this.
Imports will be subjected to detention and sampling for analysis for the
presence of aflotoxin, a substance which may occur in broken and mouldy
groundnuts in shell.
Few Legislation
(a) Pasteurised Liquid Egg. The Liquid Egg (Pasteurisation) Regulations,
1963, which require that bulk liquid egg be pasteurised, came into force on
1st January, 1964.
There are new two egg pasteurising plants in the Borough, the second
of which began working in April. It is used only on occasions when an
abundance of shell eggs makes it economical to do so.
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