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FOOD COMPLAINTS
During the year a number of complaints were received about foods
sold in the district, all of which were investigated.
Sardine and Tomato Fish Paste. A complaint regarding the condition
of this paste was exhaustively investigated by the staff of the laboratories
of both the Public Analyst and the manufacturers concerned and the
only organism which could be found to account for the abnormal condition
was Clostridium histolyticum.
Tinned Corned Beef. A complaint was received from a member of the
public concerning the abnormal appearance of corned beef in a tin and
this was investigated at the laboratories of the canners and the
condition was found to be due to sulphide of iron.
Wire in Bread. The Council decided to prosecute where the purchaser
found wire inside a loaf of bread and the magistrates found the retailer
not guilty. It was not possible to proceed against the manufacturers,
but subsequently a successful private action was taken by the retailer.
Red Salmon. The purchaser of a tin of red salmon was concerned to
find what appeared to be crystals of glass in the fish, but it was
explained that this is a common occurrence, the condition being due to
a substance known as struvite.
Foreign Body in Butter. A complaint was received concerning a rubber
band found in a packet of butter which had been imported from Denmark.
The purchase took place outside the district and it was dealt with by
an adjoining Authority. The manufacturers took immediate steps to
prevent a recurrence, the rubber band being a washer from part of the
processing machinery.
Chocolate infested with maggots. A trader was warned of the serious
consequences of selling a bar of chocolate infested with maggots, a
condition arising from long storage of a product.
Foreign matter in Bread. The Council prosecuted the manufacturers of
a loaf of bread containing dirt and the magistrates imposed a fine of
£30 with 5 gns. costs.
Complaints concerning cockles, smoked cod roe, rock salmon and
canned pear's were investigated during the year.
ICE CREAM
Fifty-seven samples were submitted to the methylene blue test.