London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Chelsea 1952
Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1952
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49
ICE CREAM
Thirty-six samples of Ice Cream were submitted to the Public Health
Laboratory Service for "Methylene Blue" tests, with the following results
Grade I 24
Grade II 5
Grade III 1
Grade IV 4 34
The remaining two samples were of coloured ices which did not respond
to the test.
A consideration pf the table set out below will clearly show that very good standards are now attaining in respect to Ice Cream.
| Grading | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of samples | Percentage of total | No. of samples | Percentage of total | No. of samples | Percentage of total | |
| I | 63 | 59.4 | 50 | 83.3 | 24 | 70.6 |
| II | 27 | 25.5 | 7 | 11.7 | 5 | 14.8 |
| III | 13 | 12.3 | - | - | 1 | 2.9 |
| IV | 3 | 2.8 | 3 | 5.0 | 4 | 11.7 |
| TOTALS: | 106 | 100.0 | 60 | 100.0 | 34 | 100.0 |
As recently as 1949 the percentage of samples of Ice Cream graded I and
II was only 42.9, whilst in the same year those included in Grades II and 17
aggregated 57.1 (Grades I and II are considered "satisfactory;Grades III and
IV - "unsatisfactory"). Traders whose products have been adversely reported
upon are notified of the findings, whilst Medical Officers of Health are
advised similarly concerning Ice Cream manufactured in their areas.
Ice Cream which received chemical examination by the Public Analyst is
commented upon in the section devoted to "Food and Drugs" commencing on
page 58.