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43
In addition to the above premises there are 81 licensed Street Traders selling food within
the Borough, namely:—Fruit and Vegetables 52, Ice Cream 12, Light Refreshments 13,
Fish 3, Poultry 1. These, with the storage premises of 15 Street Traders licensed by other
Boroughs, are under constant supervision.
There were 7 premises on which fish curing was performed, this business as well as fish
frying, being regulated by special bye-laws. There were also 42 premises on which sausages
were made.
The number of visits of inspection paid to premises occupied by food purveyors was
1,929.
Ice-Cream.—This substance is an inexpensive and nourishing food, and a short description
of the method of preparation in use by small dealers may be of interest. Ice-cream is usually
prepared in four quart batches and a special ice-cream powder is used. This powder is
made by wholesale dealers and sold in tins to ensure dryness. It contains eggs, sugar and
cornflour, with vanilla or other flavouring substance.
To make ice-cream, a pound and a half of the powder is placed in a basin and made
into a smooth paste with some milk. About four quarts of milk, after being boiled in a
double saucepan to prevent burning, is then added to the contents of the basin whilst hot
and quickly stirred until the mixture thickens. The mixture is then allowed to cool and
is then frozen in a specially constructed freezer. The principle on which these freezers work
is generally the same, there being a central metal container in which the mixture is placed
and the contents of which are stirred during the freezing period by means of rotating fans.
These fans serve the purpose both of ensuring a uniform consistency and of aerating the
mixture. The central container is placed in a wooden tub, the space between the two being
filled with a freezing mixture, usually a mixture of crushed ice and coarse salt.
The fans are rotated by hand or by electric power, the freezing process taking about
twenty minutes. It is the usual custom to make the mixture over-night to allow it to cool
and to freeze it the next morning.
There were 116 shops at which ice-cream was known to be sold, comprising the following
kinds of businesses:—Bakers 9, General 7, Milk 12, Confectioners 43, Refreshments 40,
Wholesale 3, Newsagent 1, Greengrocer 1.
Two hundred and thirty (230) inspections of premises were made.
Ice-cream was sold from 25 barrows stored within the Borough and from 32 barrows
stored outside the Borough.
Section 29 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1928, renders it necessary
for the owner or occupier to register with the sanitary authority any premises which are used
or proposed to be used for the sale or the manufacture for the purpose of sale of ice-cream
or other similar commodity or the storage of ice-cream or other similar commodity intended
for sale. At the end of 1929 there were 80 entries in the Register.
Registration is not necessary as regards premises which are occupied as factories or
workshops or used as hotels, restaurants or clubs.
Food Destroyed.—The total weight of food surrendered by tradesmen and dealers for
destruction by the Council was 4 tons, 10 cwts., 1 qr., 27 lbs., comprising the following
varieties:—Fish 889 lbs., Fruit and Vegetables 7,036 lbs., Poultry 100 lbs., Meat 236 lbs.,
Offal 1,580 lbs., Tinned Food 294 lbs.
Dairies and Milkshops.—At the end of the year 1928 there were 107 names on the
Register. During the year 1929, 7 names were added and one removed (premises closed),
making a total of 113. Eight of the businesses were transferred to new proprietors. There
were 423 inspections made.
Sterilised milk in bottles was found to be on sale at 85 premises.
Milk (Special Designations) Order, 1923.
During the year 62 licences were issued by the Council pursuant to this Order, 15 being
for "Certified," 21 for "Grade A (Tuberculin Tested)," and 26 for "Pasteurised" milk.
The licences in respect of "Grade A (Tuberculin Tested)" milk included one for a bottling
establishment, and those in respect of "Pasteurised" milk, two for pasteurising establishments.
The samples taken by the Council's Inspector numbered 31, and included 25 of "Certified"
and 6 of "Pasteurised" milk. All the samples were found to be in compliance with the
bacteriological standard appropriate to the kind of milk.