CHINESE EGGS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4524, 7 February 1923, Page 3

CHINESE EGGS.

POISONING IN FRANCE. AN AMERICAN IDEA. In the “Scientific American" there is a note on cases of poisoning in France from the use of frozen eggs from China which had been used for making bread and confectiopery. The Chinese eggs are broken into tins and -frozen before shipment at a temperature of 15 degrees C., pr 15 degrees below the freezing point of pure water. If these eggs were allowed to thaw for some time before use mould, streptococcus, staphylococcus, and the bacillus coli would soon grow on them to perfectio’n. The note state that the only safe use for such eggs is ip bis-cuit-making, where the high temperature would destroy the organisms. ORGANISMS FLOURISH. The organisms, which flourish on the eggs are distinct evidence that they were either produced under very dirty conditions or the eggs were packed in dirty roonjs, tins, and by very dirty packers. In any case, frozen eggs (from China stand condemned for hupian food, for the same organisms would be present in the eggs even if they were put into the bread when frozen. Such forms of life do . not arise de novo, but are formed from parent forms. The growth of moulds always takes place on decomposing organic matter, and even <if they may not be the cause of serious diseases, it is not nice to have to eat food which contains moulds. Both streptococcus and staphylococcus may give rise to abscesses, erysipelas, and have been found in scarlatina, etc. The bacillus coli lives in the large intestine of man and various animals, and the presence in the eggs shows contamination with excrement from the bowels. It is not only the dangers which may arise from the use of food containing the bacillus coli, but. it may be associated with the organisms which cause typhoid fever and cholera. All food should be condemned which contains the bacillus coli. This organism must either have found its way into the eggs through tjie bad sanitary conditions whicli prevail in China, or the egg shells must have been soiled with excrement from the intestines, and when the eggs were broken into the tins the bacillus coli found its way into the broken eggs. CONDITIONS IN ■ CHINA. In China, where the eggs were produced, there is an enormous populat'on, said to exceed 400*,000j)00, and the people average 250 to the square mile. The sanitary conditions of this Immense population are deplorable, and the excrements are carefully collected, stored, and used for agricultural purposes. Under such conditions contamination of products such as eggs must be of everyday occurrence. The dangers which lurk in the frozen eggs most likely are also lurking in the dried eggs,, and for the sake of the health of the community the importation of both frozen and dried eggs from China should be stopped.