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33
VII.—FOOD INSPECTION.
There has been no change in the administrative procedure described in my last
Report. Details of condemnations, samples submitted for chemical analysis or
bacteriological examination, &c., are given below.
The following report of the examination of the damaged cargo of the
ss. "Roumelian" may be of interest—
The ss. "Roumelian" left London on loth May with a large general cargo for
the Mediterranean. Off the Isle of Wight she was in collision with another vessel
and was so severely damaged that she had to be beached. The two after-holds were
awash, number two hold had eleven feet of water in it and number one about eighteen
inches. Temporary repairs were effected and the vessel returned to London, arriving
on 26th May. The discharge of cargo commenced the following day. The flooded
holds contained not only foodstuffs in tins, bottles, cases and sacks, but also sheets of
galvanized iron, copper, paint, soda, alum and drugs. It was therefore necessary to
regard all the foodstuffs as contaminated, unless it was certain that the containers
had absolutely prevented the access of any water from the holds. Over three thousand
packages were examined by Inspector P. W. Coombe, over 1,800 of which were detained
for sorting, 1,376 being finally condemned as unfit for human consumption.
The following points from Inspector Coombe's report show how, under the
pressure in the lower holds, water was forced into many of the food containers and how
quickly rusting and perforation of cans took place.
Canned Foods.—Cans which had been lacquered or painted showed no evidence
of rust, only the labels had come off. Where the tins had been packed in tight cases
there was only slight rust, but when they were packed in sawdust or straw the rusty
condition was very pronounced. Some tins, e.g., dried milk, had a press-on lid with
a thin air-tight cover inside. In these water had got past the lid and in some cases
the inner cover had rusted through. The press-on lids were all removed and the
inner cover dried. Each tin was then weighed against a new one, and if it was heavier
it was concluded that water had got past the inner cover. Tins of biscuits, mustard,
custard-powder and baking powder, &c., were not water-tight and their contents
were ruined. In the case even of biscuit tins with an inner cover under the lid water
had entered through the seams. Water found its way into the large tin-lined cases
in which confectionery was packed.
Bottled Goods.—Bottles fitted with screw-caps escaped, except in a few
instances, where the cap was not screwed on tightly. Bottles containing sauces,
pickles, &c., closed by glass or porcelain stoppers escaped in every case. Jars of jam
fitted with air-tight metal covers were unaffected, but small glass jars of fish paste,
&c., with metal caps secured by a clip were in many instances water damaged; the
caps could be removed without effort and water was found on the grease-proof paper
over the contents.
Barrels and Casks varied, some having remained tight and others having
leaked.
Dry Goods, such as currants, prunes, apricots, rice and flour, in boxes or sacks
were, of course, irretrievably damaged.
The assistance of Officers of H.M. Customs, the Port of London Authority and
the Liverpool and Glasgow Salvage Association in the control and sorting of this
damaged cargo is gratefully acknowledged.
Caseous Lymphadenitis.—In May of this year representation was made to the
Ministry of Health suggesting that some modification might be made in the
examination of imported mutton and lamb for Caseous Lymphadenitis.
As the result of a Conference attended by the Medical Officers of Health principally
concerned, the Ministry decided that the position justified a reduction in the routine
examination to 5 per cent. of all carcases whatever the country of origin, but that
pieces of mutton should continue to be subjected to a 100 per cent. examination.