Mould on Bottled Fruit
One of our Links sent me a curious example of mould which she had taken from a jar of bottled gooseberries. It was a tough, dry, circular piece, flexible and firm. I took it to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; and their report should be carefully read before this year’s preserving begins: The mould is principally of the Penicillium (or "green-mould") type. It is harmless to human beings. It is due either to faulty sterilisation of the bottle, lid, or contents, or to faulty sealing of the jar when cooking and sterilization ‘were completed. This could have been ‘brought about in any of the following » Ways.- \ If the old type of glass-lined, zinc lid and rubber ring were used, it is possible that the edge of the lid was not sitting
properly on the rubber rings. It is generally necessary to press the edge of the lid tight on the rubber ring, say, with the handle of an old spoon, to obtain a perfect seal. These lids are very soft and are liable to become buckled once they have been used. If the oven method of sterilization was used, it is possible that the fruit in the middle of the jar had not been heated long enough, and to a high enough temperature, to effect cqmplete sterilization. lf the jars were heated in the oven and the fruit cooked in a pan and then _ poured into the jars, the fruit may have been allowed to cool down before the jars were sealed. This would have caused loss of vaqusum in the jars, and the ‘introduction of a small quantity of unsterilized air, which would have allowed the mould to grow. If the new type of lid with an inner metal top seal was used, lifting of the lid could have occurred by over-filling the jars, The acid juice would come in contact with the tin-plate and attack it, with the formation of hydrogen, This would cause a head pressure and cause the lid to litt, thus breaking the seal and allowing air to enter, with subsequent mould growth on the top of the liquid,
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19471205.2.49.3.1
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 17, Issue 441, 5 December 1947, Page 27
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360Mould on Bottled Fruit New Zealand Listener, Volume 17, Issue 441, 5 December 1947, Page 27
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