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Six warning letters were sent to manufacturers in respect of
articles of food complained of by members of the public.
SAMPLING OF EGG PRODUCTS 1958
Sampling of egg products to determine possible contamination
by Salmonella organisms was continued during 1958. The total
amount of egg entering the borough proved to be almost double
that of 1957. Under the Public Health (Imported Food) Regulations
1937 local authorities are allowed only 48 hours as a period
of detention for sampling purposes and, in order to obtain a
punctual examination and rapid decision, the importers paid for a
considerable number of the samples to be examined privately.
The method of sampling was by batch numbers (signifying
packing dates). Where a sample showed evidence of contamination
the whole batch was placed under detention and later either reexported
or released for pasteurisation before use.
The main importations were of frozen whole egg of which the
chief exporters were China and Australia and laboratory results
showed that 4.6% of the samples taken from these consignments
contained Salmonellae. The total number of samples from all egg
products found to be contaminated was 244 and the following table
shows the type of contamination.
No. of
samples
Salmonella aberdeen 17
Salmonella anatum 5
Salmonella bareilly 1
Salmonella bovis morbificans 1
Salmonella muenchen 3
Salmonella newport 12
Salmonella potsdam 4
Salmonella senftenbure 2
Salmonella thompson 147
Salmonella typhi-murium 51
Salmonella thompson & typhi-murium 1
244