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
Finsbury 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finsbury Borough]
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Fifteen samples of ice-cream were examined last year bacteriologically, and the results are summarised below :—
| 4 | |
| 1 | |
| (c) B. Coli not present in less than 1 c.c. Total bacterial count over 1,000,000 per c.c | 3 |
| 5 | |
| 1 | |
| 1 |
When B. Coli is present in less than 1/10 c.c. some
contamination from dirty utensils, receptacles or hands has
almost certainly taken place. This organism should be absent
altogether, but if not present in less than 1/10 c.c. it is probable
that gross contamination has not occurred. It was noted that
in eight specimens taken it was altogether absent. The total
bacterial count is probably largely dependent on the care with
which the material is kept as regards exposure to air and dust,
No count over 750,000 can be regarded as at all satisfactory. There
are no official standards for the cleanliness of ice-cream, and the
classification given can only be used as a general guide. It is seen,
however, that the bacterial purity of most of the samples taken is
not satisfactory ; thus groups (a) and (b), five in all, may be
regarded as generally good; those under (e) and (f) must be
regarded as definitely bad.
A warning was sent to those dealers whose samples proved
unsatisfactory, and special visits were paid to the premises of
those concerned. A special leaflet giving advice as to cleanliness,
etc., has been prepared for distribution to all those dealing in this
commodity.