The early history of official meat controls in the UK

1
The early history of official meat controls in
the UK
Eleni Michalopoulou University of Liverpool,
School of Veterinary Science
2
19th Century a case

• 1857 Session 2 2233 Report on Murrain in Horned
  Cattle, Public Sale of Diseased Animals, and
  Effects of Consumption of their Flesh on Human
  Health, by E.H. Greenhow

These butchers are there described as persons
who purchase and kill diseased cows and other
animals. The meat is chiefly sold to the
proprietors of stew and pie shops, but also
partially retailed to the poorer classes.
3
Nuisances removal and disease prevention Act 1855

• Addresses the sale of meat unfit for human
  consumption
• The act made obligatory the employment of one or
  more "sanitary inspectors" (previously inspectors
  of nuisances) by each authority or jointly with
  other authorities
• Defined their powers of entry

4
Nuisances removal and disease prevention Act 1855
5
Mid19th century the context

• Industrial Revolution and liberalisation of trade
• Urbanisation
• Poor Law amendment Act 1832
• Epidemics
• Cholera
• TB
• FMD 1839
• CBPP
• Phytophthora infestans (Potato blight)
• Sanitary movement and first legislation
• Engels, Chadwick, Snow
• Miasma v contagion
• Political change
• The Great Reform Act 1832
• The Peoples Charter 1838
• 1848 Revolutions in Europe
• 1855 "Recherches sur la Putrefaction" by Luis
  Pasteur

6
Nuisances Removal and Disease Prevention Act 1855

• Trade in meat from diseased animals is at the
  centre of Inspectors enforcement when and where
  it is applied
• John Gamgee estimated that around 20 of all meat
  consumed in the UK in the 1850s and1860s was from
  diseased animals (predominantly FMD and CBPP)
• Newton Heath had 16 abattoirs of which 3
  specialised in the slaughter of diseased animals
• The Inspector for Leads
• 1861 798 submitted, 305 rejected
• 1864 1,414 submitted, 547 rejected
• The diseased meat not sent through Leads.

7
Nuisances Removal and Disease Prevention Act 1855

• The implementation of the Act was not uniform or
  compulsory for the Local Authorities. Not enough
  inspectors were appointed (Birmingham had only
  one)
• There is no specific training
• Butchers, Farmers, Cattle dealers and dairymen
  fought against the implementation of the Act
  (e.g. Smithfield Market relocation 1828-1855,
  pubs, butchers and St Barts)
• The links between diseased animals and human
  disease is not based on knowledge of aetiology
  but observation and occasionally experimental
  studies

8
The Buildings Act 1844

• No slaughterhouse within 50 feet of a dwelling
  and 40 feet of a public way with a 30 year period
  of grace
• Remembered in 1873, it would have led to the
  closure of private abattoirs
• The House of commons Select Committee on Noxious
  Businesses recommended the repeal of the relevant
  clauses of the Act

9
The Public Health Act 1875

• Gradual implementation
• At the end of the 1870s 689 district in England
  and Wales had at least byelaws for the sale and
  slaughter of meat while 205 did not
• In 1896 From 249 Meat inspectors Nationally 191
  were in London and 13 in Glasgow

10
Tuberculosis

• Dominates the discussion about animal and human
  disease
• Confusion over transmissibility of M. bovis to
  humans
• Long debate over the role of meat in transmission
  and the need for whole carcass condemnation
• Unsafe meat begins to get specific descriptions
• The debate on the need for 100 inspection and
  public abattoirs continues

11
1898 2nd Royal Commission on Tuberculosis

• Recognises TB as a zoonosis transmitted by food
  with particular reference to milk (R. Koch will
  later challenge this statement, 3rd Comission)
• Suggests that the use of the meat from diseased
  animals if not directly affected may be consumed
• Recommends cooking of meat and boiling of milk
• Recommends the creation of Public slaughterhouses
  under the supervision of the local authority and
  the closure of the private ones
• Recommends the technical training of Meat
  inspectors.

12
Results

• The Sanitary Institute produces a syllabus and a
  course that provides a qualification in Meat
  Inspection. By 1903 107 graduate among them
  Vets, Sanitary inspectors, butchers and salesmen.
• TB is a major disease that is detected through
  meat inspection but by now included in the list
  of the inspector are Anthrax, Actinomycosis,
  Cysticercus Cellulosae, Liver fluke, braxy,
  Trichinella Spiralis, and the animal diseases of
  FMD, CBPP and Rindrpest
• Beyond the role of specific conditions the
  hygiene of meat and the role of contamination is
  also recognised

J. Lane Notter MD DPH and W. Hunting FRCVS (1904)
13
Results

• Public abattoirs are not introduced in any
  systematic way
• Questions are raised for even their standards

14
Results

• Inspection is not universal and unfit meat still
  available

Mr Wolstenholme of Manchester MRCVS (1904)
15
International Meat Trade

• Average amount of Meat consumed per annum in the
  UK
• 1831-1841 980,000 tons 100 domestic
• 1910-1914 2,575,400 tons 58 domestic 42
  imported (Perren 1978)
• Controls for live animals date back in the 1860s
• Up to 1906 only London Port Authorities had the
  power to inspect Imports.
• The Manchester Port Order is amended to include
  such powers in 1906 under public pressure
  (Chicago, Jungle)
• Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Act 1907
• Powers of sampling for testing and detention,
  100 penalty for disobeying..
• Different classes of meat (early risk
  assessment)

16
Uniformity of Inspection and Seizures

• 1920 National Federation of Meat Traders requests
  measures for Uniformity of Inspection and
  Seizures
• 1875 PH Act (1890 Amend.) is the law
• London and Scotland have their own additional
  rules where slaughterhouses need to be licensed
• Scotland in addition had rules for emergency
  slaughter
• The Medical Officer of Health and the Inspector
  of Nuisances (Sanitary Inspector) are the legally
  powered officers. In Scotland in addition the
  Veterinary Surgeon is an authorised officer
• Inspection is becoming part of the within trade
  competition

17
Uniformity of Inspection and Seizures

• During the war compensation for the meat trade
  was introduced for diseased animals (compulsory
  allocation of animals)
• The Monro Enquiry reported in 1921 and led to
  the
• Memo 62/Foods (1922)
• The Public Health (Meat) Regulations 1924 (and in
  Scotland)
• The Rural District (Slaughterhouses) Order (1924)
• Detailed rules for Meat Inspection, reporting
  system for diseases
• The rules were adoptive and some LA did not
  implement them
• 20,000 private slaughterhouses in 1927

18
No Changes until 1958

• With the exception of the creation in 1938 of the
  Animal Health division of MAF with responsibility
  in Animal Health (subsequently State Veterinary
  Service/AH/AH-VLA)
• In 1937 LAs employed 200 full time and 700 part
  time Vets. After the change Vets remained in
  Scotland and N. Ireland but not in England and
  Wales
• At the end of rationing there were 500
  slaughterhouses in England and Wales. They rose
  to 4,500 by the early 60s

19
1958-1964-1970s-1995-2004

• From the Domestic and Import controls to the
  Common market and globalised trade (WTO)
• Upgrade of the role of hygiene and structural
  standards
• From Local to Centralised controls (though not
  for all aspects)
• From TB to Salmonella/BSE/Campylobacter/E.coli
  ..
• The battle continues.

20
Selected sources and acknowledgments

• The Journal of the Royal Society for the
  Promotion of Health
• Animal Health a Centenary, 1865-1965
• Food, Science, Policy and Regulation in the 20th
  Century D.F. Smith and J. Phillips Eds.
• The Meat Trade in Britain 1840-1914 by Richard
  Perren (1978)
• The Glasgow case Meat,disease and regulation
  1889-1924
• The development of Veterinary Public Health in
  Western Europe 1850-1940 P. Koolmees
• Professional Advantage and Public Health British
  Veterinaruians and State Veterinary Services,
  1865-1939
• The Science of Cows Tuberculosis, Research and
  the State in the UK, 1890-1914

• My colleagues at the VPHA
• All of you for listening