On This Day, 23 November 1917

Birmingham Mail

Friday 23 November 1917

PUTRID TINNED MILK

£20 FINE IN BIRMINGHAM

Clifford Mayle, grocer, was fined £20 in the Second Court of Birmingham Police, today, for exposing for sale 47 tins of condensed milk unfit for human consumption at his grocers shop, 274, Pershore Road, Stirchley.

Defendant, it was explained, had a number of shops in Birmingham and district. Inspector Millington visited the address given on September 27 and spoke to seeing 49 tins of milk in front of the counter. The tins bulged, with the exception of two, and after being examined by Dr. Beazeley (Assistant Medical Officer of Health) were destroyed. The manageress told him the milk was part of a consignment received six weeks earlier from the head shop, and after complaints from customers she was instructed to return it. Witness saw defendant subsequently, and he said the milk was originally part of a consignment of 25 cases. On the previous Wednesday, the manageress returned ten cases, and he intended to send the remaining tins of milk to the firm who supplied it.

Mr. A. Hall-Wright, on behalf of defendant, urged that the milk could not have been exposed for sale as it was enclosed in tins. It was the universal custom of shopkeepers to exchange tinned milk if a customer found it to be bad on opening the tin.

The Bench, however, held that although the milk was in sealed tins it was exposed for sale.

Dr. Beazeley said the whole of the 47 tins bulged and there was a distinct odour of purification. Seven or eight tins were opened, and he condemned the whole of the milk.