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The Public Analyst's report was as follows:—
"This sample on examination gave the following results:—
Date examined 21.3.56 4.4.56
Copper in Skin 2.3 3.1 parts per million
Copper in Flesh 2.7 2.0 parts per million"
Subsequently the Medical Officer of Health of Battersea forwarded a copy of his Public Analyst's
report on the balance of the bananas in his area which read as follows:—

"A sample of bananas purchased from a shop gave 1.2 parts of copper. The amount natural
to bananas is given in reference books as 0.9 parts, which is in close agreement. In my opinion
the copper found in these samples may be considered negligible for a foodstuff."
It will be seen from the above reports that although the technique employed in examining the
samples differed, the results obtained were, to all intents and purposes, identical.
In view of the latest Memorandum of the Food Standards Committee of the Ministry of Food —
"Revised Recommendations for limits of copper content of foods" — para. 9 of which reads "For
other foods, with the exception of those for which higher limits are provided below, we recommend
a general limit of copper of 20 parts per million", your Medical Officer informed the Jamaican
Producers' Marketing Co. Ltd., that provided the composition of the spray did not exceed that
laid down in the letter from the Banana Board (quoted above) there would be no grounds from a
public health point of view, for prohibiting the importation of bananas so treated, into the United
Kingdom.
This decision was evidently forwarded by the London Manager of the Jamaica Producers'
Marketing Co. Ltd., to the Banana Board in Jamaica for your Medical Officer received the following
letter, dated 16th April, from the Research Department:—
"On my return from a trip to Central America, I found that a cable had been received stating
your approval for us to send home bananas sprayed with the new oil-based fungicidal mistspray,
similar to that used in Guadeloupe.
"I am extremely grateful for your prompt action in this matter because it has been a great
help to us here, in view of the desire to implement this form of spraying on a large scale
throughout Jamaica.
"Thanking you again.
Yours sincerely,
(Sgd.) R, LEACH,
Director of Research."
TRANSPORT AND HANDLING OF MEAT AT THE DOCKS
Your Medical Officer has for some time been concerned by the lack of interest displayed in the
hygienic discharge of meat at the docks. Your Health Inspectors have, from time to time, found
instances of dirty gear being used in the discharge of meat, particularly boards, tables and cargo
nets. Your Officers have partially succeeded in dealing with these shortcomings locally but with
a view of focussing the direct attention of shipping companies on the problems involved, your
Medical Officer decided to convene a meeting on the 27th March of representatives of those shipping
companies importing meat into the Port of London and of the Port of London Authority. At
this meeting Mr. P.W. Coombe, your Senior Port Health Inspector at the Royal Docks, outlined
some of the causes of complaint — meat deposited on quays for lengthy periods, being exposed to
weather conditions and contaminated by repeated handling; exposure in warm weather causing
deterioration of frozen meat and attracting flies; unwanted carcases lying about after sorting of
batches, and, finally, the insanitary conditions sometimes found of the meat discharge quays.
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