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cases, 2 were condemned for leakage, blowing etc. and during a joint examination of the contents
of the sound tins together with the buyer of the organisation concerned it was found that approximately
20 out of 40 tins examined had charring of the vertical seam of the can with detached lacquer
contaminating the contents. Examination of further tins revealed about 50% showing discolouration
of the lacquer with about 10% having charring and detached lacquer. The wholesaler decided to
reject the total import which was collected and re-exported. The chief public health inspector for
the area receiving the remainder of the import were notified of the sequence of events.
Information was eventually received that the wholesaler's representative had inspected the
production process at the Spanish factory concerned and found further faulty cans in use as a result
of which the remaining consignment of 1,000 cases were cancelled. Subsequently contracts for
1973 season were placed with a Spanish firm using tin plate cans. Samples of an identical product
in tin plate cans from a different source were taken and stored under adverse conditions. These were
opened in the department's laboratory at the expiry of 8 months and found to be in perfect condition.
(b) Imported chilled beef and chilled boneless strip loin
During the period February to April 1972 two consignments of Argentine strip loin, totalling
45 lbs. in weight, were inspected at the request of a wholesaler within the Borough and condemned
for early putrefactive changes. Bacteriological investigation of samples of strip loin and chilled beef
were carried out and plate counts of 3-5 million and 5-5 million respectively were obtained. Details
of the producing establishments were obtained and the information and findings were passed to the
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to arrange for resident veterinarians in the Argentine to
make checks of the establishments involved. Repeat samples taken in October 1972 gave results of
130,000 and 75,000 respectively these latter counts being considered satisfactory for raw meat.
The results themselves in isolation are not conclusive and further monitoring will continue.
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