A BLOCK OF MEAT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 123, 30 June 1941, Page 3

A BLOCK OF MEAT

TO SOLVE EXPORT PROBLEM SPACE REDUCED TO ONE-FIFTH A block of meat measuring seven inches by eight inches by 14 inches occupied the centre of the table when members of the Auckland Executive of the Farmers' Union re-> turned from lunch at their meeting on June 18. It was explained that this small parcel contained the equit valent of several large joints of Wfc? or of a fully matured lamb. Actual* ly this condensed product had been reduced from an original beef content five times its size. The president, Captain Ruslitvorth, explained that the parcel represented a .sitagc in the> effort tlie Union is making to assist New Zen-, land farmers to overcome the effects of meat cixport restrictions by devising some means', of preparing, meat for export in such a form -that the Space question would be largely minimised. The Union, he said, had Rrranged for the production of a f) cwt. sample of this same product to be .fl'Mit to the New Zealand High Commissioner in London, who would have it examined by food experts in Great Britain in order to ascertain I whether or not its production and export on a large scale was commercially practicable. The Cambridge University, he added, was doing something of the kind, and he had arranged to have a samnle of its nroduct sent cut here. Captain Rushworth expressed warm appreciation of the assistance given b.v tlie Vytal Products! Company, and also by the New Zealand Agricultural Company in making, at no cost to the; Union, the necessary experiments lo bring tlie projcct to its present stage. Mr W. F. Fullarton, of Messrs. Vytal Products Ltd., and at ihe invitation of the president furnished furthnr particulars. He explained that the manufacture of this "meat Hour" was based on the fact that (here was 75 per cent of water in ordinary beef. By a comparatively ! si'mple process the water was eliminated, and the product after suitanle h-eahnent was subjvieted to high pressure. Basiing the original value of the beef used on 4Y 2 per lb. the cost of the block of meat Hour then on the fable was just f>per lb, no allowance being made for containers , or Cor profits. To pay them to maim- - fact lire it on such a scale tiioy would need to get 4/- per lb. This was not so dear as it might for it represented. the equivalent of Gibs of first-quality fresh meat on the hooks. None of the vitamins and mineral content of t.he meat Avas eliminated in the process of condensation. The block of meat flour was subseqnentiv cut and, and each of the members was given a portion to take home and sample.