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77
Bacteriological Examination of Food.
During the year 12 samples of fish cakes were taken, some at
the factory where they were manufactured and some from shops
where they were exposed for sale. All were examined for the
presence of Cl. Welchii hut in no case was this isolated. Samples
of canned corned beef (1), cream substitute (3), synthetic cream
(3), jellied veal (1), luncheon meat (2), custard (1), gravy powder
(1), stewed apples (1), veal (raw) (1), flour (1) and drinking
water (1) were examined and found to be satisfactory.
Following a case of food poisoning, two samples of canned
corned beef were obtained for examination. One sample produced
cultures of coagulase positive staphylococcus aureus; the
other sample gave a growth of coagulase-positive staphylococcus
aureus, and anaerobic cultures produced non-haemolytic Cl.
Welchii. Coagulase-positive staphylococci are a not uncommon
cause of food poisoning, and Cl. Welchii is also sometimes thus
incriminated. Small pieces of rather dirty-looking fibrous
material were embedded in the surface of the second sample:
this appeared to be some kind of cloth wrapping, presumably
used before the meat was canned.
As these samples had been taken from corned beef which
had been removed from tins and handled by the butcher, it was
decided to obtain an unopened tin of the same brand. A 6-lb.
tin was submitted for examination, but all cultures from this
sample, both aerobic and anaerobic, remained sterile after prolonged
incubation.
Particulars of the results of these examinations were forwarded
to the Ministry of Food.
Ice Cream.
During 1951, the Sampling Officer obtained 79 samples of
ice cream and 10 samples of water ices for submission to the
Methylene Blue Test. In addition, 39 samples of ice cream and
2 of water ices were sent to the Public Analyst for chemical
analysis. Details of the results of these examinations are as
follows:—