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
St Pancras 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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The following table shows the detailed results of the bacteriological examination of ice cream samples during the years 1947, 1948 and 1949.
| 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samples | % | Samples | % | Samples | % | |||
| Satisfactory | Grade I | 17 | 22.3 | 75 | 41.7 | 59 | 32.4 | |
| Grade II | 14 | 18.4 | 38 | 21.1 | 52 | 29.0 | ||
| Grade III | 23 | 30.3 | 31 | 17.2 | 44 | 24.6 | ||
| Unsatisfactory | Grade IV | 22 | 29.0 | 36 | 20.0 | 25 | 14.0 | |
| Totals | 76 | 100.0 | 180 | 100.0 | 180 | 100.0 | ||
There is still no legal standard for fat content, the Ministry of Food considering it
impracticable at the present time to fix a definite standard for the chemical contents of ice cream
owing to the shortage of important ingredients.
There is, however, an arrangement whereby a manufacturer who undertakes to make
an ice cream with a minimum fat content of 2.5 per cent, is allocated a somewhat higher
proportion of certain ingredients by the Ministry of Food.
In co-operation with that Ministry, this Department has, during the year, taken 89
samples of ice cream for chemical analysis, the results showing a fat content varying between
0-57% and 18-3%. The following summarises the results in three broad divisions.
Below 2-5%. 2-5%—5%. Over 5%.
6 31 52
(c) Other commodities.
There were also 27 samples of synthetic bakery filling cream, 22 of which were reported
to be satisfactory from a bacteriological point of view. Eight samples of other commodities
were satisfactory except in one instance.
Legal Proceedings. The following 12 prosecutions were undertaken during 1949 in respect of food and drugs :—
| Court and Date of Hearing. | Oflence. | Result of Proceedings. |
|---|---|---|
| Marylebone 4.1.49 | Hovis loaf containing rats' excreta | Plea of guilty. Dismissed under Probation of Offenders Act. Costs £1 Is. |
| Clerkenwell 7.1.49 | Bottle of milk containing dirt | Summons dismissed. Costs £5 5s. against Borough Council in favour of defendant. |
| Marylebone 9.2.49 | Nail in cake | Case against wholesalers dismissed. Plea of guilty. Fine £1. Costs £1 1s. |
| Marylebone 8.3.49 | Sausage meat (beef) containing only 30 per cent meat | Plea of guilty. Fine 40s. Costs £6 6s. |