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
Hammersmith 1963
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hammersmith Borough]
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| Ice Cream | 81 |
| Milk | 91 |
Ice-Cream
Ice cream was manufactured at three premises in the Borough, two of which
were wholesale distributors, but at the moment of going to Press one of these has
closed down.
Most of the ice cream sold in the Borough is pre-packed but the trend to "soft"
ice cream is steadily increasing, though it was retarded no doubt by poor weather
last summer. Particular attention was paid to sampling from soft ice machines and
from mobile vehicles during the year, and as might be expected a number of
unsatisfactory results were obtained, but samples improved after advice on management, although some vendors stopped using soft ice machines before the end of the
season owing to the bad weather.
During the year 81 samples ot ice cream were taken tor bacteriological examinition and the Methylene Blue test by the Public Health Laboratory Service. The Methylene Blue test is recommended by the Ministry of Health as a guide for ascertaining the bacteriological cleanliness of ice cream. The time taken to decolourise Methylene Blue being recorded and the samples graded as follows :—
| Provisional Grade | Time taken to decolourise Methylene Blue |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | ½to 2 hours |
| 4 | Less than ½ hour |
The 81 samples were placed in the following grades : —
43 were within Grade 1
14 were within Grade 2
8 were within Grade 3
15 were within Grade 4
Eight of the 15 samples in Grade 4 were manufactured outside the Borough.
Four of those manufactured in this Borough were from soft ice machines, and all
were followed by satisfactory samples after investigation. One sample gave a satisfactory "plate count" but the methylene blue test was not readable due to chocolate
covering.
In addition eight samples of ice cream were taken for chemical analysis by the
Public Analyst, all of which complied with the standards laid down by the Food
Standards (Ice Cream) Regulations. 1959, i.e. not less than 5% fat and not less than
1½% milk solids other than fat.
Ice-Cream and Preserved Food Premises
The following summary, which includes new registrations effected during the
year, shows details of the number and type of premises registered under Section
16 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955.