FOOD POISONS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 150, 22 December 1922, Page 18

FOOD POISONS

DEADLY TOXINS "CARRIED, What is wrong with our food'? Test tubes and the'object glasses of high powered microscopes have answered half the riddle. Scientific evidence shows that foods in daily consumption often carry the toxins of deadly germs—toxins that kill in a few hours. How, when, where, do the germs enteT the food? That half of the riddle remains sealed to tho'eyo of the keenest'science. Ministry of Health officials, roused by the recent high frequency of food poisoning out-' breaks, have undertaken a new and drastic line of investigation. "We have opened a close investigation into the preparation and canning of food in the factories," said aJi official of the Ministry of Health to a "Newcastle .Chronicle" representative. "Experts, trade!" tho direction of Dr. Macfadden, the noted investigator, are thoroughly examining the methods of cooking, preserving; packing, and storing these foods. More stringent regulations for factories, where food is handled, may.be made, when the Ministry receives their reports. Moreover medical officers throughout the country have been instructed, to report at pneo \any cases of supposed food poisoning in their area-. A Ministry of Health expert will then be sent to investigate the outbreak." Twenty-live new- cases of food poisoning have been reported in Manchester. Twenty .similar cases were reported in the city last week. Pork sausage and cheese are the food suspected in tho new caaes. The Health Department' of Manchester Corporation, when this new outbreak was reported, issued an urgent request that the public should immediately report any case of food'poisoning, mild or serious.' The following list of food-poisoning outbreaks recorded ii> the last two months shows how urgent is the need for energetic measures': —Lpch Maree—Eight persons died after eating meat paste sandwiches. Liverpool—Forty wedding guests ill after eating various foods, including lobster sandwiches. Dover —One hundred persons ill after eating cheese from Montreal. Blackley—Twenty people poisoned by sausages and cheese. Hoxtori —Woman killed by poison in chicken broth. Manchester—Four persons ill after eating veal chops. ' Southwark— Man died after eating fish paste and mutton eandwiches. Newcastle-on-Tyne —Boy killed by poison in pea soup. Choriton-on-Medlock—Six people, ill after er.ting mutton; one died. - • Sheffield —Sixteen people ill after eating veal and ham pie. Mr. A. E. Moore, of the Incorporated Vermin Repression Society, considers •that food poisoning may be due to laxity in laying virus for rats. The Government, he declares, allow the promiscuous' sale for rat destruction of virus containing typhoid and aertycke bacilli. Domestic animals, such as 1 ducks, fowls, and pigs, eat the virus pla-ced down for,the rats, and tho germs are communicated to human beings when these animals are Tilled for the <table. Mr. Moore urged the necessity of a Royal commission to investigate preservatives and poisoning.