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Importers realise that it is in their interests to attain a high standard of examination
at the source, and, in addition, to have goods so prepared and packed as to facilitate
examination here. Thus, Ox Tongues arrive dressed so as to have the lymphatic glands
easily accessible. Pig carcases have the submaxillary glands incised and drawn forward
in an exposed position, so that no difficulty is experienced in examining the carcases
in the frozen state. Imported Offal is packed with a view to rapid inspection, as is also
boneless Veal, in which care is taken to expose the serous membranes.
As regards Canned Goods, a considerable proportion is submitted for examination
by expert examiners, on behalf of the merchants. From experience, the Port Sanitary
Authority have complete confidence in this examination, which is of great assistance
to their Inspectors.
When diseased or unsound food is discovered it is almost invariably voluntarilysurrendered,
and it is very rare indeed that it is necessary for the Port Sanitary
Authority to go through the formal procedure of seizure and condemnation by
a Magistrate.
The majority of Foodstuffs condemned as unfit for human consumption is not
destroyed, but is used for some industrial purpose, such as the manufacture of poultry
food, soap, grease, &c. In every case the Port Sanitary Authority obtain guarantees
and require to be satisfied that there is no danger that such condemned food, when
it leaves their district, will be sold elsewhere for human food. Thus it comes about
that, though such vast quantities of food are imported, and the number of Inspectors
is few, the amount of food which goes into consumption in an unsatisfactory
innditinn is infinitesimal.