RETAIL MARKETING OF MEATS 
37 
Meat sections in department stores rank first in the matter of 
sanitation. Of the chain stores, stalls in public markets, straight 
meat markets, and combination meat and grocery stores, 63 per 
cent, 54 per cent, 42 per cent, and 36 per cent, respectively, were 
found to maintain " good " sanitaiy conditions. Of the cash-and- 
carry stores 59 per cent, as against 33 per cent of the service stores, 
were found to maintain sanitary conditions above medium. 
Lack of equipment in many shops precludes conducting the busi- 
ness in a sanitary way. It is advisable, therefore, for municipal 
legislation to specify certain equipment for shops where fresh meat 
is retailed. As a minimum, adequate refrigerating facilities of 
standard construction, sanitary counters, and a sanitary meat block 
should be required. All shops retailing fresh meats should have side 
walls and ceilings so constructed that they can be easily kept clean, 
and impermeable floors of suitable material that can be flushed and 
washed clean with water. 
The volume of fresh-meat sales of a considerable number of the 
combination meat and grocery stores does not warrant the purchase 
of even the minimum equipment. This fact, together with the in- 
discriminate handling of meats along with other commodities, ac- 
counts in large measure for the relatively low percentage of this type 
of store maintaining satisfactory sanitary conditions. 
Common points of criticism, applicable to all types of stores in dif- 
ferent degrees, are (1) msanitar}^ condition of shop equipment, 
particularly ice boxes and receptacles for waste and refuse; (2) 
practice of holding slow-moving cuts too long without proper care ; 
and (3) display of meats without protection. The Louisiana sani- 
tary code, previously discussed (p. 9), undoubtedly intends to limit 
the number of stores relative to population throughout the State, 
but it is believed that its provisions have not so diminished competi- 
tion as to make retail prices higher, and they have had a salutary 
effect upon sanitary conditions. 
Table 20. — Sanitary conditions of various types of stores 
[Twenty completely canvassed cities] 
Class of service and type of 
stores 
Num- 
ber of 
stores 
Good 
Medium 
Bad 
Filthy 
Num- 
ber 
Per 
cent 
Num- 
ber 
Per 
cent 
Num- 
ber 
Per 
cent 
Num- 
ber 
Per 
cent 
Cash-and-carry stores 
Service stores. . 
690 
1,989 
404 
657 
58.55 
33.03 
223 
905 
32.32 
45.50 
49 
388 
7.10 
19.51 
14 
39 
2.03 
1.96 
Total 
2,679 
1,061 
39. 60 
1,128 
42.11 
437 
16.31 
53 
1.98 
1,628 
849 
57 
13S 
7 
589 
355 
36 
75 
6 
36.18 
41.81 
63.16 
54.35 
85. 71 
666 
387 
21 
54 
40.91 
45.58 
36.84 
39.13 
331 
96 
20.33 
11.31 
42 
11 
2.58 
Straight meat markets 
1.30 
Stalls in public markets 
Meat sections in department 
9 
1 
6.52 
14.29 
Total 
2,679 1,061 
39.60 
1,128 
42.11 
437 
16.31 
53 | 1. 98 
RETAIL MEAT TRADE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES 
Since 48.6 per cent of our population resides in the open country 
inhabitants, consideration of the 
and villages of less than 
2,500 
