MEAT INSPECTION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1563, 5 October 1912, Page 8

MEAT INSPECTION.

HOMO-TAINT LESS l'REqt/EYr. Referring in his annual report, dated May, tu the, mutter of bonc-tainl in I:itl', Mr. Alex. Crabb. JI.RX'.V.S.. of I lie Cinvorniiiciit London stall, says thai alllumgh ho had to report in tin; autumn 011 considerable condemnations banc-taint was now appearing with much less frequency than in previous yours. This jays Mr. Crabb, was specially uuliceabie in connection with one of the North Island freezing works, where it was no liuiiMial thing In find 10 to M per cr'ni. of hindquarters affected. During the last twelve months such iinprinemcnls had taken place that only an isolated quarter was found to havo bone-taint. Continuing, Mr. Crabb says that it is to he hoped that every endeavour will be made to maintain the existing satisfactory conditions, as the knowledge that a certain brand of beef-is likely to prove tainted detracts from its value and quick sale. During the period under consideration only n moderate quantity of boneless beef had been sent to London from New Zealand. The consignments which had come directly under his, notice had been between four and five thousand packages (boxes ur bugs), and of these !)2 had been rejected and L'll passed only after having been thawed out for further examination than could he made in the frozen stale. The condemnations, also the holding-over for further examination, had been due to the fact that the packing had not complied with the foreign meat regulations. Mr. Crabb says lie is pleased to say that most of the regular senders of this class of meat seem to lie trying to meet the requirements at tlio London end; their meat is of fair quality, neatly boned and cut in identifiable pieces, well bagged and frozen separately, and in other ways confoniiiii!: to the regulations and acceptable to ihe authorities. Against {his, however, there have been .shipments which have been the exact opposite of tho above, and it is to be regretted that all packers do not try to meet the requirements. Home of tho moat arrived either frozen in alm.ist solid blocks or so distorted that recognition was impossible—hence cither condemnation or thnwing-oiit for identification and examination. Again, in some instances, whore the.actual packing had teen acceptable, the beef itself had been of the lowest grade—either bull or cow with hardly a trace of fat visible—and one could only conclude that the meat had come from animals in a state of extreme poverly. , While it was not to be expected that beef approaching '.'prime" in quality would be boned and boxed, Mr. Crabb llrongly recommends that niore weedingout b? done, and that certain packers raiss considerably the standard of quality for this class of export.