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SAMPLING OF EGG PRODUCTS
Sampling of egg products was continued and extended during 1956.
Whereas, during 1955, sampling had been confined to Chinese Egg
Albumen it was decided early in 1956 to examine all egg products
entering the borough for possible contamination. Co-operation was
readily given by the importers who were responsible for quite a large
proportion of the samples taken, thus facilitating the work of the Council's
Inspectors. As the result of examination the amount of egg found
to be contaminated totalled nearly 120 tons and this was eventually
released either for heat treatment or for re-export only.
In May, 1956 information was received of an outbreak of Paratyphoid
Fever which had occurred in the Dagenham area. The suspeçted
source of infection was artificial cream thought to be contaminated
by Chinese Frozen Albumen which had been used in a bakery in the
district. Upon investigation it was found that 22 tins of the suspected
consignment of albumen were still lying in a cold store in Bermondsey.
Each of these tins was sampled and 4 were found to be contaminated
with Salmonella organisms, two of these being identified as Salmonella
typhi-murium. The contaminated tins were destroyed.
A further outbreak of Paratyphoid occurred at Bexley, Kent, in
June. This time the suspected source of infection was Chinese Frozen
Whole Egg. A total of 141 tins remaining from this particular consignment
was discovered in Bermondsey and each of the tins was
sampled. The bacteriological report showed 25 positives, including 7
Salmonella typhi-murium. The whole of this stock, together with 168
tins transferred from Southwark, was released to the order of the
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for pasteurisation in
Northern Ireland.