REPORT ON REJECTED MEAT

Chronicle (Levin), 1 April 1947, Page 3

REPORT ON REJECTED MEAT

WELLINGTON, Nlarch 31. ''An investigatioii into the rejection of a consignmeiit of A e\v Zealand boneiosa boef bv butciiers in Bristol, k&s i(\eaied tlie following faets, " says a stateinent lssued. by tlie general-' manager for Xew Zealand of tlie Meat Producers Board. ' ' The eonsignnient was part of a considerable quantity of nieat whieli was lire damaged at the Southdown freezing works in August 1946. All the meat subjeet to the lire damage was inspected by tlie Board 's supervising meat graders and that which was rejected as unlit for human consuinp- | tion was disposed of in digestors. The | balance, slightly smoke-taiiited, was reclassified lit for export and subjected to the ozone treatment. In addition tlie Auckland Farniers Freezing Co. Ltd. arranged for its British agents to inspect and report 011 the shipment on arrival. Tlieir report read as follows: ' This product has been sent into eold stoi'C for necessary treatment for the rcnioval of any taint. On discharging the meat was found to be only slightly ail'ected with smoke fumes and we are of opinion that the meat, after treatment in cold store, will be satisfactory for consumption. ' "From these faets," the statement continues, ' 1 it will be seen that everytliiug possible was done by the shippers at this end to see that the meat was lit for liunian consumption on arrival in United Ivingdom,' Whetlier or not this meat should have been issucd as part of the ration cannot be deterniined here but the exigencies of the situation in England 110 doiibt are such that all classes of meat which can be used in the ration are so nsed. In the circumstances in which the British Government is placed during this most difficult food shortage period, I feel we should not attemtp to dictate eonditlons of usage. After all the meat is the property of the United Kingdom Ministry of Food oiiee it is placed aboard "ship. I do feel, however, that in cases such as this, the United Kingdom Ministry of Food, knowin'g the circumstances, should have taken steps to avoid adverse publicity to New Zealand meat, by releasing the full facts.".