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(a) Freshly Canned Goods.—Freshly canned goods, when correctly processed and packed, should
reveal an almost complete absence of unsound cans. The Food Inspector may exercise his
discretion as to the extent of his inspection and he will, in the first place, be guided by the
appearance of the cases. If the cases show no evidence of staining and he has previous satisfactory
evidence of the same foods from the same source, he may be satisfied to open a few
cases and a few cans at random. If cases are stained he should open all cases so affected and
a minimum of 5 per cent. of unstained cases as well. A similar percentage of cases should be
opened if previous consignments of the same product from the same source have proved
unsatisfactory. If in the cases examined 3 per cent. or more of the cans are found to be
unsound, he should examine a further 5 per cent. and so long as the percentage of unsoundness
continues to be 3 per cent. or over he should carry on through the whole consignment, all
unsound cans which come under his notice being condemned as he proceeds. Food inspectors
should also ensure that from time to time samples are taken from every type of canned foods
from every source for such analysis as may be appropriate (metallic contamination, prohibited
preservatives or colouring matters, deficiency in essential constituents, &c.).
(b) Old Stock.—Old Stock demands careful inspection and the preliminary examination should
extend to a minimum of 5 per cent. of each parcel. A few cans should always be opened for
inspection of the contents and of the interior of the can itself.
(c) Reconditioned Stock.—By reconditioned stock is meant cans which appear to have been vented
and re-sealed or to have had leaks re-soldered. Since it is impossible to say at what stage
in the history of the can, from the factory to the consumer, such re-soldering has been done,
all reconditioned cans should be condemned. In exceptional cases venting of sanitary cap
cans or the strengthening of seams by additional soldering may be normal factory practice,
but the Food Inspector should be very cautious in accepting this explanation and, even if
he is satisfied to do so in any particular case, he should discourage the continuance of the
practice.
(3) "Blown" Cans.
The contents of all "blown" cans must be regarded as unsound and should be condemned as
unfit for human consumption. This decision should be taken irrespective of whether the contents
are for direct consumption or to form part of a manufactured article, e.g., milk in toffee or fruit pulp
in jam. No attention should be paid to arguments as to the wholesomeness of the contents of "blown"
cans. Bacteriological examination of the contents may take too long, the results are not always
reliable and, in any event, are applicable only to the cans so examined. Hydrogen swells are "blown"
cans and should be condemned as such.
Cans in the condition known to the trade as "springers," "slack caps" and "puffy cans" should be
regarded as early stages in the development of " blown " cans and should be condemned.
(4) Cans opened by Customs Officers.
Cans opened by "spitting" for Customs examination should be disposed of for immediate use only
and should not be allowed to pass into circulation in the ordinary way.
(5) Leaky Cans.
The leaky can, however slight the leakage, and even if the leak appears to have been sealed by the
contents, should always be condemned.
(6) Trade Examinations.
A trade examination of canned goods is the rule and efforts should be made to keep in touch with
all trade inspections to take advantage of the opportunities thus afforded to extend the inspection of
canned goods without duplication.
(7) Foodstuffs released for Industrial Purposes.
Certain condemned foodstuffs may have a commercial value and in these circumstances their
removal may be permitted for manufacture into feeding stuffs for cattle, pigs, dogs and poultry or for
other purposes, provided the Medical Officer of Health is satisfied that they will be so used and that
there is no risk of their being disposed of for human consumption in whole or in part or in any form.
When condemned foods are to be released for industrial purposes to the district of another Authority
the consent of the Medical Officer of Health for such district should first be obtained in every instance
unless he has given a general consent to a particular person in his district receiving a particular type
or types of foodstuffs.
Condemned foodstuffs should always be detained until the Medical Officer of Health of the district
to which it is proposed to send them has signified his approval for their release, except when the Medical
Officer of Health has given a general consent and, even then, he should be notified of the particulars
and the destination of each consignment.
(8) Sweepings of Flour, Bice, &c.
Sweepings of flour, rice, &c. (except sugar) should be released for industrial purposes only and should
not be allowed to go for human consumption in any form. Sugar sweepings should be carefully
controlled. If sugar sweepings are subjected to a satisfactory process of refining there is no objection
to the final product being used for human food.