RETAIL MARKETING OF MEATS 35 
Table 19. — Comparative numbers of stores displaying prices of fresh meats 
Class of service and type of store 
Number 
of stores 
Stores 
display- 
ing prices 
Stores 
not dis- 
playing 
prices 
687 
2,143 
Per cent 
37.41 
12.83 
Per cent 
62.59 
Service stores.. '.... ... ... . .. . . 
87.17 
Total 
2,830 
18.80 
81.20 
Combination meat and grocery stores... . 
1,792 
647 
217 
165 
9 
13.78 
15.46 
70.97 
18.18 
11.11 
86.22 
84.54 
Chain stores . . . 
29.03 
81.82 
Meat sections in department stores .. .. 
88.89 
Total 
2,830 
18.80 
81.20 
SANITARY CONDITIONS AND REGULATIONS AFFECTING RETAIL MEAT TRADE 
It is generally recognized that the slaughtering of animals and 
the retailing of fresh meats is a proper subject for regulation to 
safeguard the public from unclean, diseased, and unwholesome meat. 
The sanitary provisions of State statutes and of city ordinances ap- 
plying to establishments where animals are slaughtered and fresh 
meat is sold are generally inadequate in provision for enforcement. 
Even when sufficient authority exists, city inspection of slaughter- 
houses, of dressed meat, and of retail stores handling meat is usually 
lax and inadequate, because of insufficient funds or incompetence 
or indifference of inspectors. In some cities, operators of slaughter- 
houses and of small stores report that they have never been in- 
spected for sanitation. It was found, during the canvass of the 
trade, that city officials responsible for the inspection of establish- 
ments retailing fresh meats in several instances had less than half of 
the total number on their list for inspection. 
SANITAEY CONDITIONS AT POINT OF SLAUGHTER 
In so far as inspection of animals and meat at slaughterhouses 
and packing plants is concerned, the health of the public is well 
protected by Federal regulations, if the dressed meat is to be ship- 
ped in interstate commerce. The public health is not so well pro- 
tected against locally-slaughtered diseased meats not handled in 
interstate commerce, since most of the meat slaughtered outside of 
Federal control receives no adequate inspection. Federal inspection 
statistics show that considerable numbers of animals slaughtered 
are affected with some disease or some condition in such degree as 
to require their condemnation in whole or in part. The large 
slaughtering establishments at points where Government inspection 
is maintained seek to avoid losses by condemnation, by exercising 
great care in the purchase of animals, accepting only those that 
appear to be sound and healthy. This reduces losses at such estab- 
lishments, but tends to divert animals of doubtful soundness to 
establishments without inspection. With increasing knowledge of 
the frequency with which disease occurs in food animals, the ques- 
tion of what becomes of the meats and products from the diseased 
