TRICKS IN THE TINNED MEAT TRADE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10733, 13 August 1900, Page 4

TRICKS IN THE TINNED MEAT TRADE.

Some articles, which have appeared in certain of the English papers regarding the sale of unwholesome tinned meat are likely to discourage the consumption of that article in England, unless steps are taken to reassure the public imind.lt is said that there are unscrupulous traders who, when they have an old stock of tinned meat on band, do not hesitate to cover the tins with new labels, so as to give them the appearance of being fresh. Worse than this, there are some who are guilty of the crime—for it; is nothing less —of ictoctoring "blown" tins. When, the meat in a tin decomposes, the ends of the tin show a tendency to bulge out from the pressure of the liberated gases. Before bsing allowed to leave a New Zealand factory, the tins are examined for this very defect, and any wliich show such a tendency would be at once rejected. In England, however, it is said there are some scoundrelly persons who puncture the tins to let out the gas, and after soldering them up again, proceed to sell them as if they were good. It is suggested by one English journal that it would be a good p3an if the meat companies were to print on the label —or better still, stamp on the tin—the date on which the meat was preserved. This would undoubtedly act as a safeguard to the consumer, and we can well understand that the brand of any company which adopted this plan would soon grow in popularity. 'Possibly, there may be practical difficulties in the way not apparent to an outsider, but it seems worth the consideration of tie NewZealand companies engaged in the trade. We may add that the practice of dating photographic films has been adopted by certain manufacturers with good results so far as the users of such perishable goods are concerned. It made retailers rather chary of stocking them, however, except in such quantities as they know they can get rid of easily and speedily.