EXPORTED FOODSTUFFS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21793, 7 May 1934, Page 11

EXPORTED FOODSTUFFS

deterioration by mould INVESTIGATION IN ENGLAND Investigations into the deterioration °f exported foodstuffs due to mould are to be carried out by Mr. J. C. Neill, mycologist at the Plant Research Station, Palmerston North, who will leave Auckland by the Trojan Star tomorrow for England. Mr. Neill is to make special inquiries on the carriage frozen and chilled products on beoalf of the Departments of Agriculture aR d Scientific and Industrial Research ®na much of his work in England will bo carried out in association with the ntish Low Temperature Research Sta"on at Cambridge. He will also attend ® n . Empire conference of mycologists in London.

llr. Neil I said the Plant Research station at Palmcrston North was purely simply a research station, with no eacning duties to perforin. One of the Particular .tasks was the combating of insect pests. The narcological section palt ( with fungi, bacterial and virus jseases. Much of the work done had E'ven"a lead to other departments of a Similar nature all over the world. ■During the past few years experts ? the station had been studying mould . n gi which had caused deterioration ,n chilled beef, cheese, butter, bacon ?! lc * other stored food products. With the freezing process, neither moulds ,®«cferi a would grow and, although hilling prevented the growth of bacer' a , "'it did not, at present, defeat the Problem of mould. *n the chilled meat trade, mould was 10 most serious problem to be ovcrjoln.e - It grew very slowly in storage uring the passage to England, but . it appeared with great piuity. The mould was not actually Poisonous, but it detracted from the jiff 6 * ll- * l ' lloo of the meat and had a bad J'uence on price. The same thing apP to-other chilled products. Research work was being conducted 11 England in an endeavour to discover »° w deterioration due to mould could tf ven ted. The damage started at New Zealand end and it was t that the adoption of precauonary sanitary measures during load- £ operations would be of considerable *alue.