circular from the minister of commerce., November 27, 1883
circular from the minister of commerce.
Monsieur le Préfet: A decree of the President of the Republic of the 27th of November has just annulled the decree of the 18th February, 1881, which prohibits on the entire territory of the French Republic the importation of salted pork coming from the United States.
This decree, which has for object to restore to consumption a much esteemed article of food among the working classes, will not efficaciously attain the end in view unless all requisite precautions for the preservation of public health are taken in the use of this meat.
The consultative committee of public hygiene of France, to whom I referred the question, undertook a minute examination of the subject, from which it results that preserved pork loses all serious danger of infestation of trichinosis if it is salted with care, and if the brine in which it is deposited is of good preparation. You should therefore recommend to the municipal authorities, who have more especially in their attributions, the supervision of articles of food, to examine with the greatest care whether these conditions are entirely carried out as far as concerns salted pork put up for sale in their commune, and not to hesitate to seize and destroy that which, from an imperfect degree of saltness, may appear to them unfit for consumption.
The committee has ascertained besides, both scientifically and by experimental means, that trichinosis, when it exists in pork, is entirely destroyed by complete cooking, and that all danger will disappear for the consumer if, conformably to our well-known culinary habits, this meat is not eaten raw or rarely cooked.
You will please therefore bring this important particular to the knowledge of those under your jurisdiction by all the means of publicity at your disposal.
I beg you will acknowledge receipt of the present circular, and give your careful attention to the execution of the directions contained therein.
Receive, &c.,
The minister of commerce,