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All imports of such foods can be detained within the district of the Authority
for examination by their Inspectors. Such action is from time to time taken, but in
order to avoid complete dislocation of the trade concerned it is usual to allow consignments
to leave the Docks on the understanding that they will be held for
examination by the Medical Officers of Health of the districts of destination, who must
have previously expressed their willingness to receive and take responsibility for the
inspection of the goods. This was the principle put into practice in regard to imported
Mutton and Lamb during the latter part of 1928, and was continued until June, 1929,
when the improvement resulting from the institution of examination in the countries
of origin was so marked as to make it possible to reduce the routine examination to
ten per cent., and later to five per cent.
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 Health
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 voluntarily
surrendered, and very rarely is it necessary for the Port Health 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 Health 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 condition
is infinitesimal.
INSPECTION OF CANNED FOODS.
In order to secure, as far as possible, uniformity in the inspection of Canned
Foods at ports throughout the British Isles the Association of Port Health Authorities
issued the following Memorandum for the guidance of Food Inspectors:—
(1) Inspection in Relation to Customs Examinations.
Customs Officers are only required to detain for inspection by the Medical Officer of Health
prohibited meat or meat product without an "Official Certificate" and foodstuffs which are manifestly
unsound, but they can and do give invaluable assistance in many other ways. Indeed, the inspection
of imported foods cannot be efficiently carried out unless there is the closest co-operation between
the Food Inspectors and the Customs Officers.
(2) Proportion of Canned Foods to be Examined and Action to be Taken.
It is undesirable to attempt to fix a minimum percentage of canned foods to be examined in all
cases. The extent of examination must depend on the Food Inspector's knowledge and experience
of the condition of previous consignments of similar foods from the same source. It is, however,
desirable to make certain recommendations, as follows:—