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89
their Accredited Producers Scheme. In Battersea veterinary service
is hardly likely to be needed, but the Council informed the Board
that they were willing to provide such assistance as might be
required.
Condensed Milk.
During the year 5 informal samples of Condensed Milk were
submitted for examination, of which 3 were described as "fullcream"
and 2 as "machine-separated." All were found to be
genuine and to comply with the requirements of the Public Health
(Condensed Milk) Regulations, 1923.
Tinned Sardines.
During the past year the presence of lead in tinned sardines
has been investigated as the result of a report from the Medical
Officer of Health of the Port of London.
Twenty-four informal samples of different brands were analysed,
and of these 16 were found to contain lead in quantities varying
from 3 to 30 parts per million.
The source of lead in tinned sardines has been investigated by
a firm of analysts, and their conclusion (published in December,
1933) was that the method of preparation, i.e. the cooking of the
fish on the grills, caused the contamination, the lead being derived
from the metal used in tinning the grills.
It is hoped that improved methods of treating sardines before
canning will eliminate this defect.
There is, as yet, no authoritative statement as to the amount of
lead in sardines which would render them injurious to health. If
sardines were an article of every-day consumption the presence of
lead, even in small amounts, would probably be detrimental to
health, but, as they cannot fairly be so described, it is an open
question whether traces of this metal up to, say, 30 parts per million
could be regarded as a source of potential danger.
Ice Cream.
There were at the end of the year 212 premises in the borough
used for the manufacture, storage, or sale of ice cream.
Nine new premises were registered during the year and one,
referred to on the next page, was removed from the register, the
number of registered premises therefore being increased by 8.
All the premises, stalls, barrows, &c., from which the trade is
carried on are kept under inspection during the season.
During the year 99 inspections were made, and, except in the
case referred to below, it was not found necessary to serve notices
in respect of these premises.