London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of London 1919
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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TABLE XXXIII.
PUBLIC HEALTH (FOREIGN MEAT) REGULATIONS, 1908.
During the year Notices were served under Articles HE. (5). IV. (1) of the above-mentioned Regulations, for the exportation of the following meat : —
| Date of Arrival. | Name of Vessel. | Where from. | Where lying. | Description and quantity in respect of which Notices were served. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1919. Jan. 3 | s.s, Baronesa " | Buenos Ay res | Royal Albert Dock | *378 pig sides. |
| „ 3 | s.s. " Benalla " | Do. | Do. | *1,102 pig sides. |
| „ 24 | s.s. " Marquesa " | Do. | Do. | *12 pig sides. |
| „ 24 | s.s. " Whakatane " | Rio de Janeiro BuenosAyres | Royal Victoria Dock | 117 bags pork. |
| May 13 | s.s. " Marquesa '' | Royal Albert Duck | 6 cases pork loins, 1 case pork kidneys. 61 headless pig carcases. | |
| Jun. 30 | s.s. "Highland Glen " | Do. | Do. | |
| Sept. 29 | s.s. " Waimana" | New Zealand | Do. | 42 headless pig carcases. 1 bag of beef pieces. |
*The above-mentioned pig sides came within the definition of " Foreign Meat of Class I.,"
the importation of which is prohibited. The matter was brought to the notice of the Importers,
who stated that:—•
" In October last, we received several consignments of heavy pigs which showed
" signs of Bone taint, resulting from the difficulty of freeing such heavy carcases
" from natural heat before freezing. To obviate a recurrence, thereby wasting
" valuable food and refrigerating space on steamers, the method of ' siding '
" was adopted."
The sides were admitted after as thorough an examination as possible, on the understanding
that in future shipments the regulations would be adhered to.
FOOD INSPECTION.
The Regulations issued by the Local Government Board (now the Ministry of
Health) under the Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Act, 1907, were carried out
in the Port of London, and resulted in 2,829 tons 15 cwts. 0 qrs. 19 lbs. of Unsound
Food being destroyed or disposed of in such a manner as to prevent its being used for
human consumption.
Exceptions are shown in the disposal of some of the goods for the manufacture
of confectionery and distillation. The goods used for the manufacture of confectionery
were condensed milk which had either undergone a yeast fermentation or had
been returned to this country owing to caramelisation and discolouration. The
deleterious qualities were removed in the process of re-manufacture, and thus the use
of a considerable quantity of valuable food material was retained.
The goods used for distillation consisted of dried apricots and raisins.
The goods were disposed or as follows, only those which could not be used for some useful purpose being actually destroyed :—
| Tons. | Cwts. | Qrs. | Lbs. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boiled down (recovery of fat, &c.) | 665 | 9 | 1 | 23 |
| Cattle and Poultry Food | 1,707 | 12 | 3 | 4 |
| Manufacture of Confectionery | 35 | 7 | 2 | 14 |
| Distillation | - | 4 | 3 | 18 |
| Destroyed— | ||||
| Buried | 254 | 9 | 2 | 18 |
| Burned | 166 | 10 | 2 | 26 |
| Total 2,829 | 15 | 0 | 19 |
The total shows an increase of 136 per cent. compared with the year 1918.
A summary of Unsound Food disposed of is shown in Table XXXI.
In no instance was it necessary to apply for a Magistrate's Order for the
condemnation and destruction of Unsound Food seized by your Officers.
A list of Notices served under Articles III. (5), IV. (1) and VI. of the Public
Health (Foreign Meat) Regulations, 1908, requiring the exportation of foreign meat
imported contrary to the Regulations, is shown in Table XXXIII.