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Two complaints of pieces of glass in tinned salmon were found to be the crystalline
form of magnesium ammonium phosphate, known as struvite. This chemical can be
found in a natural state in salmon but under certain circumstances after canning it
develops into a crystalline form which has the appearance of glass.
A complaint was received of worms in cod. These particular threadlike worms
are occasionally found encysted in such fish as cod, coalfish, hake and pollack but normally
no external signs of their presence are evident even when in large numbers. They
can, however, be readily seen when the fish is cut and, although it is considered that
they do not affect the consumer as they are destroyed in cooking, heavily infested fish
are regarded as being unfit for human consumption.
Food traders were again reminded by letter of the importance of the proper rotation
of food stocks, in particular those such as sausages, pies, wrapped bread and cakes,
all of which have a very limited shelf life. Nineteen complaints of mould in such types
of food were received.
In one particular instance an unusual type of mould was identified on bread. The
bread was a type of wrapped long life loaf, the major part of which was eaten by the
complainant during four to five days after purchase. On the last day of use the remaining
slices were found to be covered with a profuse growth of salmon pink mould.
Examination revealed that the mould was a comparatively rare sub-tropical type called
Monilia sitophila or "pink bread mould". This mould requires both a moderately high
temperature and high humidity for growth but, after initial infection by the air-borne
spores and under optimum conditions, it is possible for a loaf to become extensively
affected within 36 hours. The spores usually fail to develop under the normal temperatures
and humidity in this country. It was considered that infection occurred after the
wrapper had been removed and that the very warm atmosphere in the complainant's
kitchen where the bread had been kept provided ideal conditions for the rapid development
of the mould.
During the year legal proceedings were taken in four cases with the following
results:—
1. A grocer was fined £10 with £6. 6s. 0d. costs for selling a soup tablet
taining an insect.
2. A grocer was fined £7. 7s. 0d. with £3. 3s. 0d. costs for selling a beef pie
affected with mould.
3. A manufacturer was fined £10 with £7. 7s. Od. costs for selling lemonade
containing a slug.
4. A baker was fined £25 with £10. 10s. 0d. costs for selling a loaf of bread
containing a particle of rodent faeces.