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43
All the storage places situated in the Borough were inspected; communications
were sent to the Medical Officers of Health of the districts in which storage
places outside the Borough were situated, with a view to inspections being made
to ascertain that the storage was under satisfactory conditions. In three cases
unsatisfactory conditions were reported and as a result of the action taken the
storage in all three was removed to satisfactory premises. In one case although
the applicant applied for a licence for the sale of fruit and flowers, it was found
that flowers only were sold and in two cases no use was made of the licences issued.
Ice Cream.
With a view to more efficiently dealing with the manufacture, storage and
sale of ice cream, provision was included in the London County Council (General
Powers) Act, 1928, for the registration with the sanitary authority of premises
proposed to be used for such purposes. The provision does not apply to premises
occupied as a factory or workshop, respecting which notice is required by SubSection
I of Section 127 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, nor to any
premises used as an hotel, restaurant or club. Although the provision requiring
registration of these premises is welcomed as a progressive step towards the better
control of the manufacture, storage and sale of this commodity, it is to be
regretted that no power is given to local authorities, to refuse registration of
unsuitable premises. It is also to be regretted that opportunity was not taken
in connection with the promotion of this legislation to include a definition of
ice cream. Previous legislation dealing with the matter is contained in the
London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1902.
The advantage of registration is that the existence of premises where ice
cream is made, stored or sold, will be brought to the knowledge of the local
authority; this information will enable the officers of the local authority to see
that the provisions of the Act of 1902 are complied with.
The matter is of some importance in Holborn, because of the large quantity of
ice cream manufactured in the area known as the " Italian Colony." In
connection with the registration of such premises in the Borough a memorandum
on the manufacture, storage and sale of ice cream was prepared by the Medical
Officer of Health in 1928, and a copy is furnished to every applicant for registration
(sec A.R., 1928, p. 42).
During the year there were 42 premises in the Borough where ice cream was
manufactured, and in addition to my inspections 157 inspections of these premises
were made. It was not found necessary to serve any notice.
Nowadays the hygienic standard in large factories where ice cream is made is
so high that the arrangements for making ice cream in smaller places suffer by
comparison. There is no essential reason why ice cream should not be manufactured
hygienically in these smaller places, but at the same time owing to this
increasing tendency of large manufacturers to undertake the making of ice cream
it behoves the makers of smaller quantities to have careful regard to the conditions
under which the commodity is made.