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- 11 -
The Ministry of Food, Dried Fruits Section, explained
that the dates were an old crop (some eighteen months old) and
although their sale for retail was out of the question they were
of the opinion that the dates were not totally unfit for human
consumption.
Samples of the dates were drawn and examined and
following a conference between the Ministry of Food and representatives
of the local authorities concerned it was agreed that the
dates, aftor sorting, could be disposed of as follows, without any
danger to the public health:-
(a) For pickle and sauce manufacture or for other
facturing purposes involving boiling.
(b) For the bakery and confectionery trade provided
that the Health Authorities of the receiving areas
could be notified prior to the dispatch of the
goods and permission obtained from them to enter
the area.
This arrangement, together with the obtaining of
guarantees from each individual purchaser was obviously going to
entail a considerable amount of clerical work and in order to avoid
duplication it was decided, with the consent of the local
authorities concerned, that this work should be undertaken by your
Authority.
Details of a scheme for controlling the distribution of
the dates was worked out in conjunction with the Ministry of Food,
who supplied lists of the names and addresses of intending
purchasers.
The number of these individual purchasers was no less
than 1,636 whose premises were situated in 6S8 different local
authorities areas. Seventy-six of these local authorities
declired to receive the dates into their areas, the main objection
being chat they did not have sufficient staff to carry out the
necessary supervision.
Nevertheless some 4,200 tons of dates were disposed. of in
this manner and it is gratifying to note that not one single
complaint has reached either this office or the Ministry of Food
from any source, of any ill effects resulting from the use of these
dates for manufacturing purposes.
The full extent of the amount of clerical work involved
is evident from the following summary of the numbers of individual
postal packets sent out -
To Medical Officers of Health 1,444
To Merchants 1,283
To Ministry of Food 67
Total - 2,794
This resulted in an expenditure of £29.10s.7½d. in
postage, which amount will be reimbursed the Authority by the
Ministry of Food.