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be forwarded to the Union when requesting assistance. In fact, this arrangement, being dependent
upon the response to such an appeal for volunteer labour, did not prove of such value as
anticipated.
Daily reports were requested by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food as to the
position regarding perishable foodstuffs, and daily bulletins were supplied to the Corporation's
Information and Press Officer for dissemination to the press.
Commodities at greatest risk of spoilation were potatoes and onions, and to a lesser degree
fresh fruit such as apples and oranges.
The survey showed that 9,427 tons of perishable food was, in varying degrees, in danger
of spoilage, in addition to which a further 9,286 tons, mostly in refrigerated ships' holds, would
cause little concern as to deterioration for some weeks. Constant liaison was maintained with
the Port of London Authority in regard to the movement of shipping, and whilst there was a steady
decline in the tonnage of foodstuffs for which anxiety was felt, owing to departures of ships to
other ports, the tonnage of foodstuffs held in the docks in refrigerated conditions owing to
incoming shipping increased to over 30,000 tons, nearly 20,000 tons of which consisted of frozen
and chilled meat.
The greatest difficulties experienced by your officers were due to the fact that the lower
layers of foodstuffs stored in the dock sheds were decomposing and hastening the decomposition
of layers above, which process could not be halted without the labour to remove stocks still
sound. No reliable estimates as to damage could be given in these circumstances.
During the whole period of the strike there were instances of volunteer dock labour offering
their services for the removal of small quantities of foodstuffs in danger of deterioration, and in
this connection I would'mention the success achieved by personal negotiation by some of your
Inspectors on the spot. Mr. Dring at the East India Dock secured volunteer labour, on his certificate
that a cargo of 7 tons of shell eggs was in danger of deterioration, for the discharging of
of 3 tons from ship, and removal of an additional 4 tons from shed, out of the dock.
No food was condemned until the 13th June when 14 tons of potatoes were removed by the
Port of London Authority from the Docks, and from that date onwards as circumstances permitted
condemnation and removal continued, the total quantities being as follows:—
Condemned as unfit for human consumption to be used for animal feeding 48/ tons potatoes
Condemned as unfit for human consumption and destroyed 156 tons potatoes
2½ tons grapefruit
2 tons oranges
1 ton coconuts
81¼ tons onions
Total 29¼ tons
INSPECTION AND SAMPLING OF TEA ON IMPORTATION
Circular FSH. 16/58 of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, dated 28th November
1958, notified local Authorities and Port Health Authorities- that after 31st December 1958, H.M.
Customs & Excise would discontinue sampling tea on importation for adulteration and unfitness
under their permissive powers in Section 229 of the Customs & Excise Act, 1952, and that the
powers of local authorities to inspect food for these purposes remained unaffected.
In fact, this function always has been carried out by H.M. Officers of Customs & Excise,
and the powers of control under the Public Health (Imported Food) Regulations and Food and
Drugs Act, 1955 have not in the circumstances been generally exercised by other authorities.
Meetings have been held at Guildhall at which were present representatives of the Ministry
of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, H.M. Customs and Excise, Government Chemists, the Port
and City of London Public Analyst, Tea Warehousekeepers and the trade, and helpful discussions
have taken place as to both past procedures and those to be adopted in the future.
Under H.M. Customs control some 5,000 samples annually have been taken for analysis, but
what proportion of this would fall to be taken by the Port Health Authority and the City of London
it is difficult to say. In the Port of London about 85% of imported tea is discharged overside
for upriver wharves and warehouses, and in the City of London there are six warehouses and
wharves at which tea is received.
Agreement has been reached regarding procedures for inspection and sampling which should
ensure the minimum of delay and interference in a trade which is sensitive to such influences.
In view of the satisfactory results of analyses in recent years, available information indicates
that sampling may be carried out in future on a smaller scale than was formerly considered necessary.
APPLES FROM THE LEBANON - CONTAMINATED WITH LEAD AND ARSENIC SPRAY
On 29th January, 1958 a report was received from the Wiltshire County Council that a sampling
of Lebanese apples had shown amounts of lead in parts per million of up to 18, and parts per
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