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27
The consignment of the 2nd September of canned celery and the lettuce hearts of
the same date, showed an unexpected amount of copper, but it is suggested that these
vegetables, from the nature of their growth and shape, are particularly prone to catch
copper from spraying—possibly they are grown in drills between vines or other fruiting
bushes that must be sprayed—since it is clear that there is little, if any, advantage in
adding copper to lettuce hearts and, a fortiori, to a celery stick, which should be white,
or nearly white, in colour.
In conclusion, it is believed that the situation has improved very materially since
the previous discussion. It is known that a number of firms have reconstructed their
processing plants at great expense in order to render them " copper proof," and that
the practice of repeated sampling of consignments entering this country, a very rich
market for this kind of produce, will eventually have the effect of forcing producers to
render their foodstuffs free from copper contamination.
The green vegetable trade will want watching, and it is suggested that since there
is no question here of concentration, as in the case of tomato puree, the criterion of
copper content should be particularly strict and should not exceed, even for cooked
green vegetables such as beans, spinach, etc., 15 parts per million, unless reasonable
cause can be shown.
A further conference between Port Medical Officers of Health and Officers of the
Ministry of Health took place at the Ministry on the 19th October, 1938, at which it was
agreed that the toleration of not more than 100 parts per million of copper in the dried
total solids should be allowed from the 1st January, 1939, to the 1st January, 1940,
and that meanwhile where the dry total solids were found to contain between 50 to
100 parts per million, the Port Authorities should inform the importers and warn them
that, after the 1st January, 1940, such goods would be liable to be refused admission.
It was, nevertheless, considered desirable to collect further data during 1939 with
a view to considering the appropriateness of the limit of 50 parts per million of copper
which for the present would be adhered to. Results might be considered at a future
Conference if any modification of the adopted arrangement was found necessary and it
was suggested that particulars should be noted of the exact kind of sample, of the
Trade designation and the results given of the copper content on the dry basis.
Acting on these decisions your Medical Officer sent the following circular to all
merchants and importers of tomato puree and other tomato concentrates:—
" Dear Sirs,
"COPPER IN CANNED TOMATOES AND TOMATO PRODUCTS.
"At a Conference of Officers of the Ministry of Health and Port Medical Officers of Health, held
at the Ministry in October last, it was decided that a tolerance of not more than 100 parts per million
of copper in the dried total solids of canned tomatoes and tomato products should be allowed from the
1st January, 1939, until the 1st January, 1940.
"Meanwhile, where the dried total solids were found to contain between 50 and 100 parts per
million, importers should be so informed and warned that, after the 1st January, 1940, such goods
would be liable to be refused admission, and that the standard of 50 parts per million in the dried
total solids would be enforced on and after the 1st January, 1940.
"Consequently it will be the policy of this Authority to continue the careful examination of
consignments entering the Port of London, and particulars will continue to be noted of the precise
nature and type of the material from which samples are taken, with the trade designation and the
results of the copper content given on the dry basis.
"Yours faithfully,
"(Signed) M. T. MORGAN,
" Medical Officer of Health, Port of London."
An examination of the results of analyses of tomatoes and tomato concentrates
given on pages 35-42 shows that in only four instances during the year was it found
necessary to reject consignments owing to an excessive copper content, and it may here
be said that, at the time of writing this Report, the results for the early part of 1939
are even more satisfactory.
Caseous Lymphadenitis.—During the year the proportion of carcases of
imported mutton examined for Caseous Lymphadenitis, irrespective of the country of
origin, remained at 5 per cent., and that for pieces of mutton at 100 per cent.