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FOOD AND DRUGS ACT, 1938, AND FOOD REGULATIONS.
Mr. G. E. Harrington, Food and Drugs Inspector, reports as follows:-
447 samples have been submitted to the Public Analyst; 20 of these were formal samples and
427 were informal samples.
Nine samples were reported against.
The percentage of adulterated samples was 1.6.
Legal proceedings were instituted in three cases and in three other cases cautions were administered.
Two samples of sweets were found on analysis to contain certain medicaments in small quantities
and particulars were forwarded to the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain inasmuch as the sales
did not comply with the requirements of the Pharmacy and Medicines Act, 1941.
Milk.
Eighteen samples of milk were examined by both the Phosphatase and the Methylene Blue Tests
and two samples by the Methylene Blue Test only. The Phosphatase Test is designed to check the
efficiency of the heat treatment applied to the milk whilst the Methylene Blue Test gives an indication
of its keeping quality which has some relation to general cleanliness. Adverse reports on the
Methylene Blue Test were received in respect of six of these samples. In four cases where the milk
was supplied from two premises outside the City, the matter was taken up with the suppliers. In the
two other cases where the milk was sold from premises within the City, the vendors were interviewed,
cautioned and advised regarding method of sale and storage.
The average composition of milk samples taken during the year was milk fat 3.43 per cent.;
solids-not-fat 8.86 per cent.; water 87.71 per cent. No milk samples were found to be adulterated.
Food and Drugs (Milk, Dairies and Artificial Cream) Act, 1950.
This consolidating enactment came into operation on 1st January, 1951. It repealed a large part
of the Food and Drugs (Milk and Dairies) Act, 1944, and the whole of the Milk (Special Designations)
Act, 1949, but made no change in the law.
The Milk (Special Designations) (Specified Areas) Order, 1951.
The Minister of Food by virtue of his powers under the Food and Drugs (Milk, Dairies and
Artificial Cream) Act, 1950, made this Order on 27th July, 1951, to come into operation on 1st
October, 1951. It specified certain areas (including the whole of the County of London) in which it
would be illegal on and from 1st October, 1951, to sell by retail for human consumption any milk
other than milk which may be sold as specially designated milk in accordance with the provisions of
the Milk (Special Designation) (Raw Milk) Regulations, 1949, or the Milk (Special Designation)
(Pasteurised and Sterilised Milk) Regulations, 1949. Retailers selling milk in the area specified
(whether or not their premises are situated in such area) are required to be licensed by the appropriate
licensing authority to use a special designation in relation to milk.
Supplementary licences authorising the use of special designations in relation to milk to be sold
in the City of London have been issued to twenty-eight firms with premises outside the City, and
Dealer's licences to twelve firms with premises within the City.
Cream.
The Food Standards (Cream) Order, 1951.—This Order came into operation, in April, 1951. It
prescribed standards for cream made from cow's milk but the production and sale of such cream
during the year was of short duration owing to the unfavourable circumstances prevailing.
Ice Cream.
The Food Standards (Ice Cream) Order, 1951.—made in January, came into operation on 1st
March, 1951, and prescribed, for the the first time, a standard for ice-cream to be sold in this country,
viz., that it shall contain not less than 5 per cent. fat, 10 per cent. sugar and per cent. milk solids
other than fat, with exceptions for certain types of ice-cream. The suggestion was made that this was
in the nature of an interim standard and that it would be improved progressively as supplies became
more plentiful.
The average composition of samples of ice-cream taken in the City was: fat ll.7 per cent.;
sucrose 13.4 per cent.; and non-fatty milk solids 8.7 per cent. Ten samples of ice-cream were
examined by the Methylene Blue Test: Six were placed in Grade I, one in Grade II, two in Grade III
and one in Grade IV. The last-mentioned three samples were taken on two separate occasions from
the same shop. The particulars were communicated to the Local Authority of the District where the
ice-cream was manufactured. A good deal of attention has been focussed on the production of icecream
since the end of the War and along with an ever-increasing demand for this foodstuff, it would
appear that there is a tendency for more retailers in the City to draw their supplies from large scale
manufacturers, who, with the supplies available are able, by improved methods, to place a higher
quality product on the market. Generally samples of ice-cream have shown much improvement since
the commencement of sampling in 1946.
Fourteen new registrations of premises for the sale and storage of ice-cream were granted during
the year.
WATER SUPPLY.
The main supply of water to the City is obtained from river sources by the Metropolitan Water
Board, who undertake regular chemical and bacteriological examinations to ensure its purity.
In addition, water, for both public and private supplies, is abstracted from underground sources
in the Thames Basin. The total number of deep-water wells in the area of the Metropolitan Water
Board is at least 4,000, of which about 250 are for public supplies. The number of private wells serving
industry, offices, etc., in the City is 134. A complete survey of the position in the City was undertaken
in 1948, but no cause for anxiety emerged as a result of it. Since that date the periodical examination