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A high standard of hygiene is maintained in spite of the
restricted conditions unavoidable at so many exhibitions.
Merchandise Marks Act, 1926.
Regular inspections were carried out under this Act. In
some cases warnings were given by the Food and Drugs
Inspectors in connection with the labelling requirements for
fruit, particularly tomatoes. In no case, however, was it necessary
to take legal proceedings.
Ice Cream.
Fifteen premises were registered for the sale of ice cream
during the year and at the end of 1953 the total number of
registrations in compliance with Section 14 of the Act was 299.
The Food and Drugs Inspectors made 699 visits to premises
where ice cream is sold, stored or manufactured.
During the year, 105 samples of ice cream were taken for
bacteriological examination. The results of the methylene blue
test were as follows : —
62 samples were within Grade 1 standard
22 „ „ „ „ 2 „
15 „ „ „ „ 3 „
4 „ „ „ „ 4 „
2 „ „ „ „ ungraded
Samples graded in 1 and 2 are considered satisfactory, but
samples graded in 3 and 4 are doubtful. This shows an improvement
on the results for 1952.
In addition, 80 samples of ice cream were taken for chemical
analysis, all of which complied with the standard laid down by
the Food Standards (Ice Cream) Orders, 1951/52.
Milk Supplies.
93 persons were registered as Distributors of Milk at the
close of the year.
The number of small retailers bottling milk on their premises
has been further reduced and the remaining few will, of course,
cease bottling on the 1st October, 1954, as required by the Milk
(Special Designations) (Pasteurised and Sterilised Milk) Regulations,
1949. This is also the appointed date from which it shall
be compulsory to use overlapping caps on containers of
pasteurised milk.
All milk pasteurised in the Borough at the two large milk
depots is processed by the high temperature short time method.
There are altogether nine of these Plants including one of
Swedish design which has only recently been introduced into