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immediately after purchase and arrangements were made for the examinations to
be commenced forthwith.
The ice cream from which sample No. 1 in the above table was purchased was
exposed for sale in small blocks on a barrow. The blocks of frozen material
were entirely uncovered and unprotected from contamination by dust. It will be
seen that the examination disclosed a very large number of organisms. The ice
cream was made at premises situated in the Borough where the conditions of
manufacture were satisfactory. As a result of representations made to the vendor
the exposure for sale of the commodity unprotected from contamination was
discontinued.
One of the ten samples examined, No. 3, was purchased because the cleanliness
of the vendor-maker had been reported as unsatisfactory and the cleanliness
of the premises, where the commodity was made, was also unsatisfactory. The
making of ice cream in the room complained of has been discontinued until the
premises have been rendered suitable for the purpose.
The samples Nos. 1 to 5 were purchased from vendors considered to be
amongst the less satisfactory of those dealing with this commodity in the Borough,
and the samples Nos. 6 to 10 were purchased from better class vendors. It will
be seen that the former group gave evidence of more contamination than the
latter.
In nine cases the ice cream was made at premises in the Borough all of which
are kept under regular supervision. In one case, No. 8, the ice-cream was made
at a large manufactory outside the Borough.
Following the examination of these samples of ice cream a circular letter with
a series of suggestions for improving the condition of manufacture and storage and
sale of this commodity was prepared and sent to all ice cream makers in the
Borough.
It is hoped in this way to secure the co-operation of ice cream makers in
efforts to prevent its contamination.
Where ice cream sold in the Borough is made at premises outside Holborn, it
is our practice to ask for information as to the conditions of manufacture from the
Medical Officer of Health of the area concerned. On the other hand, we receive a
number of such enquiries from other districts respecting ice cream made in
Holborn, principally in the " Italian Colony," and sold in other districts.
Ice cream is being consumed in increasing quantities in this country and its
growing popularity, particularly during the summer months, adds urgency to the
suggestion that this food should be subject to a standard and its manufacture
controlled by regulations similar to those in some British Dominions and elsewhere.