FROZEN PRODUCE LETTER

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22590, 21 December 1938, Page 16

FROZEN PRODUCE LETTER

COLD STORES' PLIGHT

NEW BEEF COOLING METHOD

(From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, November 17. Government organisation of the nation's cold storage facilities in time of war formed the subject of an earnest discussion at the autumn meeting in London of the National Federation of Cold Storage and Ice Trades, when the chairman, Mr H. F. | Lloyd, expressed keen regret at the lack of interest shown by the Food (Defence Plans) Department following the issue by the department of a questionnaire in April last. In response to an inquiry, the federation was informed that "it was to be regretted that no information as to future possibilities of cold storage was available." On the eve of the crisis, the cold store undertakings were requested by telegram to state the available accommodation, although no stores had received supplies as a result of that inquiry. A member declared that he had been visited by an inspector of the department, who had stated that in time of emergency the Government was desirous of disturbing the usual channels of trade as little as possible. Another member of the federation stated that, from his knowledge of the parlous condition in which a considerable number of provincial cold storage undertakings found themselves, numerous stores would be compelled to close down or put some of their space out of commission if the Government did not very soon indicate what it intended to do to utilise the space which it had registered and about what it had inquired. For years, many stores had fought a losing battle against diminishing revenue due to quotas, restrictions, and regulation of imports, and have had to pay heavy rates upon space mostly unoccupied since the time of the Great War, when the' owners, acting from a sense of patriotism, had increased their accommodation at the request of an anxious Government. Mr J. P. Washbrook, secretary of the federation, suggested that storeowners should unite in the recommendation that more of the food imported to the United Kingdom from Empire sources should be stored in Britain instead of on the other side of the world. It should be a simple matter for the department to arrange with importers to increase their stocks in Great Britain and always to retain that increase to form a reserve food supply. Business could proceed in the normal manner during the transfer of the increased stocks and, provided the Government insisted on the additional reserves being always on hand, there would be no interference with market prices. After a long discussion, a committee was appointed to wait upon Sir Henry French," at the Food (Defence Plans) Department, to state the federations' views.

Brine Needle for Beef Following important tests in London and Chicago with a refrigerated needle to hasten the internal cooling of beef quarters, it is reported that Wilson's will adopt the new system in all their overseas meat works and packing plants. It is claimed that the new method eliminates the spoilage so frequently encountered in thick rounds, cup joints, etc., of chilled beef, consequent upon the longer time taken by the thicker parts of the carcase to relinquish the animal heat.

The type of needle used is of hollow stainless steel construction with a solid point, and it is stated that this type of needle does not tear the flesh

tissues nor corrode. Chilled brine is circulated inside the needle at any desired temperature, and the insertion of the needle into the thicker parts of the carcase during cooling-ofl! after slaughter reduces the normal cooling time by 60 per cent. The needle is simple to use and is fed from an overhead refrigerated brine supply by means of a flexible tube. When not in use, the needle can be ! hung out of the way on the wall of the cooling room or on an overhead rail clear of the operations. The temperature of the brine is usually main-

tained about 29 degrees F., and the new system can also be used successfully for chilling the inside of the vents of newly-killed poultry.

Wrapped Fruit Experiments A number of successful test consignments have been made of fruit sent from South Africa to London by a new chemical process invented by Dr.- H. A. Jay, a Durban medical specialist. In some instances the fruit had previously been pre-cooled and held in cold store. Dr! Jay claims that his system will enable fruit to be kept almost indefinitely. He is particularly anxious that, in the event of the process being used by any other country, the fruit of that country that may be preserved

by his process shall not compete on a South African market, and that the process shall be sold solely on that understanding. It is understood that ! the adoption of the process does not involve the structural alteration of ships or stores. The fruit is put into wrappers treated with Dr. Jay's chemical preparation and packed in ordinary export cases which, after being subjected to a 24-hour treatment in a specially prepared store, are shipped as ordinary cargo. It is claimed that fruit thus treated will keep for eight to 10 weeks before export in perfect condition, and. on arrival at its destination, it is possible to keep tb.B fruit for many months longer by storing it and again subjecting it to th« chemical treatment.