DEFROSTED MEAT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 30, 18 January 1912, Page 2

DEFROSTED MEAT.

A NEW PROCESS. The Agent-General in London for Now South Wales has forwarded a report by Mr Lionel Hurley, of his staff, who attended a demonstration by the Maomeikan Defrosting Process Company, Limited, at Plymouth, on November Sth, 1911. The process is one by which frozen meat is thawed in a chamber so constructed that the atmospheric pressure can bo regulated and excess moisture extracted without bursting the tissues of the meat. It is claimed that frozen beef and mutton can then be placed on the market in such a condition as to compare favourably with prime English meat.

This demonstration was attended by representatives of the meat trade of Australia, Great Britain, the United States, and South America. The beef and mutton had been taken from the Osterley, and held in a. temperature of 18 degrees for about three weeks. It was then placed in the patent chambers—beef for 48 hours and mutton for 24 hours, in a temperature of 62 degrees. Upon removal from the chambers the meat was compared with prime English beef, and a frozen quarter from Queensland treated under the old system. It compared favourably with the English meat, and was far superior to the Queensland. It had a fine bloom, and was free from mordd, while there was an entire absence of “leakage.” The kidneys and suet fat remained in the treated quarters, and when cut were fresh and free from bone-taint or bone-stink. Quarters of treated beef and carcases of mutton were cut up in the presence ■>f the visitors with satisfactory results, defrosting having been thoroughly carried out. On the following morning Mr Hurley inspected the treated meat, cut and uncut, at Smithfield market, and found it still

satisfactory, and free from the drawbacks of frozen beef marketed in the usual way.

It is stated that the company intend to erect works at Melbourne, and later to vtend operations to Sydney, and that during this year beef and mutton frozen and defrosted by the process will bo placed on tire English markets in bulk.