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insect would have had to pass through a very fine meshed screen, and would certainly not remain
whole. Also it would need to survive a vacuum after being kept at a high temperature. It was
unlikely with these processes that an insect would subsequently appear whole at the top of the
puree in an active condition. The complainant was of opinion that the normal vacuum was not
present when she opened the jar, and in these circumstances the possibility arose that at some point
after manufacture the jar was tampered with, and the vacuum released. The presence of a live
insect, however, would indicate the occurrence to have been very recent. An examination of the
retail premises did not reveal evidence of any infestation there. The circumstances of this case did
not justify formal action by this Department.
Ice Cream (Heat Treatment) Regulations, 1959—Sampling
During the year, 105 samples of ice cream were submitted to the Public Health Laboratory for the
Methylene Blue test. These samples were classified in provisional grades, based upon the method
of examination recommended by the Ministry of Health, as follows:
Grade No. of samples
1 38
2 25
3 22
4 20
Sampling included all types of ice cream available to the general public—brickettes, pre-packed
ice cream, soft ice cream ready for service from the machine, ageing vats at factory premises, and
mixes received by the supplier before use in machines.
The plate count of some soft ice cream samples was indicative of insufficient attention having
been paid to the sterilisation and cleaning processes recommended by the manufacturers of the
machine. There is a continued increase in the number of soft ice cream machines used in premises
in Westminster, and often the staff responsible for cleaning the machine have little idea of what this
should entail. In other cases no particular member of the staff has the responsibility of ensuring
that the operation is even undertaken, and there is a tendency for the ice cream remaining at the
end of day's trading to be retained in the machine over-night. Any sterilisation procedure carried
out the following morning is of a cursory nature. The task of looking after the machine should be
the responsibility of one person who should ensure that the machine is emptied at the end of the
day, sterilised and cleaned, and the operation repeated before re-use the following morning.
The managements concerned with these premises have been informed of the grading and plate
count results revealed by bacteriological examination, and instructed to exercise control over the
essential cleaning processes. Samples taken of mixes before use in the machine have generally
produced a satisfactory result.
Milk and Dairies (General) Regulations 1959
Under these Regulations, a local authority is required to keepa Register of persons carrying on the
trade of distributor of milk at or from premises within their district, whether or not such premises
are occupied by the distributor.
At the 31st December, 1966, 359 distributors of milk were so registered.
Milk (Special Designation) Regulations 1963 (as amended)
The City Council is responsible for the granting, on application, of Dealers' Licences in relation to
pre-packed milks sold under the special designations 'Untreated', 'Ultra Heat Treated', 'Pasteurised'
and/or 'Sterilised'.
A Dealer's Licence permits the sale of milk both outside as well as inside the area of the licensing
authority. The numbers of such licences current in the City at the end of 1966 were:—
Untreated 77
Ultra Heat Treated 96
Pasteurised 369
Sterilised 260
Examination of Milk
During the year, seventeen samples of milk were submitted for methylene blue and phosphatase
tests, all of which were satisfactory.
Milk Supplies—Brucella Abortus
Brucella Abortus is the organism associated with contagious abortion in cattle, and its transmission
to man occurs through drinking raw milk. As almost the entire supply of milk sold and consumed in
Westminster is heat-treated, no tests to determine the presence of this organism were carried out
during the year.