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32 Report of the Medical Officer of Health for 1950
In addition two samples were submitted to the Methylene
Blue Test, which was nullified due to interference of colouring
matter.
In addition 60 samples were examined for their fat content.
A summary of the results is given in the following table:
Under 2½ per cent. fat 3
2½ per cent. to 10 per cent. fat 33
Over 10 per cent. fat 24
Additional supplies of fat and sugar were allowed to manufacturers
who signed an undertaking that their ice-cream would
contain at least 2½ per cent. of fat.
Analysis of Food and Drugs
1,877 samples of foods and drugs were procured for analysis
during the year. 685 samples of milk, 1,038 other foodstuffs and
154 drugs. Of these 547 were submitted as formal samples while
1,330 were purchased informally. One or .18 per cent. of the
formal samples and 11 or .82 per cent. of the informal samples
were found to be adulterated or not up to standard. The total
adulterations reported were 12 or .64 par cent. of the samples
submitted.
The 12 samples found to be adulterated were: four samples of
ammoniated tincture of quinine, two of non-brewed condiment,
one each of cooking fat, malted milk, rice, sherbet powder, solution
of iodine and white pepper.
Police Court Proceedings
It was not necessary to take Police Court Proceedings in any
of the above cases of adulterated samples, but proceedings under
Section 9 (1) of the above Act were taken in respect of one case
of selling food (a meat pie) intended for, but unfit for, human
consumption. The Court treated the defendant as a first offender
and ordered him to pay £7 7s. costs.
Special Analysis
One sample of candies, one sample of chocolates and two
samples of bubbly-gum were examined for faecal coli. Negative
results were obtained in each case.
Two samples of luncheon meat and one sample of unsweetened
condensed milk were submitted to a bacteriological examination
following a question as to their fitness for sale. In each case they
were found to be fit for sale.
Five samples of mussels were examined for the presence of
typhoid organisms. The bacteriological examination did not reveal
the presence of these organisms.