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The Ministry also concurred in a suggestion that the system of sending notifications
of marks and quantities of consignments to Medical Officers of Health of the
districts of destination might be discontinued. If the 5 per cent. retained for
examination in the Port proved unsatisfactory the whole of the next consignment
from the same source would be held in dock store until 5 per cent. and any further
examination which might be considered advisable had been completed.
This arrangement was put into immediate operation in respect of consignments
for provincial destinations, but it was deemed advisable to continue the "forward
notification" of all consignments intended for stores in the Metropolitan area.

Percentage condemned.
From Australia 0.04
„ New Zealand 0.08
„ South America 0.22
Pig Carcases.—A careful examination was made of a percentage of pig carcases
arriving in the Port, the number of carcases examined being 1,787. Two carcases
were found to be diseased.
Actinomycosis in Ox Tongues.—A percentage examination was made of
every consignment of ox tongues arriving in the Port. 231 consignments were put
into dock store, where careful examination was made by your Officers of 27.102 tongues,
and 226 tongues were found affected with Actinomycosis.
Canned Foods.—In the Port of London every blown can which comes under
the notice of your Inspectors is condemned. It is sometimes argued that although a
can may appear blown the contents may be fit for human consumption. This is
quite true, but without opening the affected cans it is impossible to be sure of the cause
of the increased pressure within. The vast majority of canned foods are landed in
this country in such condition that Food Inspectors have no reason to doubt their
soundness. If tins appear blown there is something wrong somewhere, either in the
nature, quality or condition of the product canned or in the quality of the can or in
the process of canning, or in the subsequent transport and storage, and the obligation
is on the manufacturers and the merchants to ascertain what is wrong and to correct it.
It is therefore not unreasonable for your Inspectors to proceed on the principle
that a " blown can is an unsound can and must be condemned," indeed, only on this
basis can the inspection of canned food be carried out effectively.
(1) Action under the Public Health (Imported Food) Regulations, 1925, resulted
in 2,654 tons 13 cwts. 1 qr. 16 lbs. of unsound food being destroyed or disposed of
for purposes other than human consumption.