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During the year, over 4,000 samples were examined, and it is perhaps an interesting exercise
to examine what has been achieved as a result of this advance in the assessment of the fitness
of food for human consumption — freedom from harmful bacterial contamination, in addition to the
usual criteria — freedom from disease, wholesomeness and soundness.
Comparison of examination results for the years 1959, I960, 1961 and the present year
respectively give some indications of the value of bacteriological examination.

* Heavy sampling was occasioned in regard to one category of meat from a certain country —
disregarding this item which may unduly distort the position, the figures would read —
184 11 6.0
In attempting to interpret the significance of these figures, attention must be given to the
particularly large numbers of samples from shipments likely to have a high contamination rate.
It should also be noted, however, that in some instances contamination rates for batches of meat
for human consumption have been as high as 55% (boneless veal, 1962 — the average contamination
rate of this particular item being 24% for the year). It may be asked whether the detention of
shipments, delays occasioned by sampling, condemnations and conditional releases had a worthwhile
effect in receiving cleaner food.
Two categories of meat are concerned, imports for human consumption which over the four
years gives results of 1.8, 8.5, 5.1 and 6 per cent salmonella contamination respectively, if
badly contaminated batches are disregarded.
Considering the present day trend to increasing imports of boneless meat, including beef,
veal and mutton cuts, the production of which appear inevitably to introduce the possibility of
higher contamination rates due to the increased handling involved, the results give no cause for
complacency. Figures for 1963 may well be higher owing to heavily contaminated batches of a
fairly recent import of boneless beef for human consumption. Furthermore, this type of boneless
meat is used as a cheap source of protein in hospitals and schools and also for manufacturing
purposes including raw products such as sausages and the hamburger type of product.
The other category, meat imported for animal food, is consistently contaminated at a high
rate, i.e. 45.2% and 45.3% for 1961 and 1962 respectively. In spite of promised controls in the
countries of origin no real improvement is apparent, and although the Authority has no power to
limit or prohibit the importation of this type of meat, the time and effort spent by the inspecting
Officers on sampling and the application of the rigid requirements of the Meat (Staining and
Sterilization) Regulations, 1960, could better be directed to the examination of foods for human
consumption. Yet there is an obvious risk involved both in the sale of this material and its
handling in many domestic kitchens. Methods of treatment of the frozen blocks, such as by
irradiation with x-rays have been proposed.

In this instance the steady reduction in the contamination rate reflects the results of the
efforts primarily of importing firms in this country, and finally of the Ceylon Government, completely
to transform an entire incfyistry.
Two or three years ago, the Ceylon desiccated coconut industry consisted of a few fairly
well-conducted factories and a host of small ramshackle concerns, observance of any principles
of hygiene in the various processes mainly being non-existent throughout the industry and it was
not surprising that many shipments showed alarmingly high percentages of contamination.
How different is the position to-day with exported coconut coming only from mills registered
after satisfactory Government inspection and subject to frequent check sampling. An adverse
report upon any shipment imported into this country results in immediate closure of the mill concerned
until the source of contamination is removed and the output is again proved to be free of
salmonellae.
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