View report page

6
Milk.
24 samples of pasteurised milk were examined by both the Phosphatase and the Methylene
Blue Tests and one sample was examined bacteriologically. 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 qualities which bears some relation to general cleanliness,
care in handling, etc. Adverse reports on the Methylene Blue Test were received in respect of
five samples and also on the sample examined bacteriologically and cautions were administered
to the persons concerned.
The Milk (Special Designation) (Pasteurised and Sterilised Milk) Regulations, 1949, required
that from 1st October, 1954, milk pasteurised in bottles must be delivered to the consumer in
those bottles, and milk which is pasteurised, in containers other than bottles must be put into
the containers in which it is to be delivered to the consumer at the premises at which it is
pasteurised, and as soon as possible after pasteurisation.
The beneficial effect of this provision is that it checks the free handling of loose milk after
pasteurisation.
There are in the City now seven dairies within the meaning of the Milk & Dairies Regulations,
1949. In addition, there are a number of milk-bars and snack-bars, where milk is sold for
consumption on the premises only.
The average composition of genuine milk samples taken during the year was:—milk fat:
3.54 per cent.—solids (not fat): 8.80 per cent.—total solids 12.34 per cent.
81 Supplementary Licences in respect of 25 firms and individuals and 28 Dealers' Licences
in respect of 13 firms and individuals were issued under the Milk (Special Designation) (Raw
Milk) Regulations, 1949/50 and the Milk (Special Designation) (Pasteurised and Sterilised Milk)
Regulations, 1949/1953.
During the year there was one new registration of a distributor of milk within the City with
premises outside, two new registrations of distributors of cream with premises within the City
and one new registration under Section 34(l)(b) of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, for carrying
on the business of a wholesale dealer in margarine.
Cream.
Five samples of sterilised cream, one of clotted cream, three samples of single and three of
double cream were submitted to the Phosphatase Test and for general bacteriological examination.
Reports on two of the samples of single cream which had been obtained from the same source
showed them to be unsatisfactory. The manufacturers were notified immediately and a communication
was sent to the Medical Officer of Health for the district in which the cream was
prepared
Ice Cream.
The improvement effected in this product in recent years has been maintained. The average
composition of the samples taken was:—fat 9.8 per cent., milk solids-not-fat: 11.35 per cent.,
sucrose 12.5 per cent. Adverse reports were received in respect of the Methylene Blue Test on
one sample and on general bacteriological examinations of two others. These samples had a
common source and accordingly a communication was sent to the Medical Officer of Health for
the district where the ice cream was manufactuered.
There is only one manufacturer of ice cream within the City of London: his premises have
been kept under survey and samples taken therefrom have been found to be satisfactory.
Three new registrations of premises for the sale and storage of ice cream were granted during
the year.
Food Labelling.
No administrative action has been required but enquiries continue to be received and advice
and assistance have been given wherever possible to assist compliance with the requirements of
the Labelling of Food Order, 1953.
Administration.
Details of the formal and informal samples taken and submitted for analysis and of action
taken in regard to adulteration or other irregularity appear later in this Report.
Tinned Cream infected with Bacterium typhosum.
In February there was widespread alarm because a sample of imported tinned cream examined
in Birmingham had been found to contain typhoid bacteria.
The Ministry of Health took prompt action by a statement in the B.B.C. News bulletin and
by notices in the Press to stop the further retail sale of this cream, and it was then necessary
to trace the distribution. The sole agent for the importation of this tinned cream had his offices
in the City. He was visited and readily co-operated in giving the primary distribution. The
majority of the importations had been to eight other firms in the City. These were also contacted
and the secondary distribution was obtained from them. Names and addresses of all the dealers
who had received this brand of cream from the City firms were forwarded by my Department
to the Medical Officers of Health of the districts in which the addresses were situated. This
involved a great deal of work for my department, since the cream had been distributed all over
the country.
The Ministry of Health arranged for numerous samples of the cream to be bacteriologically
examined in various laboratories of the Public Health Laboratory Services. The examinations
revealed that certain batches had not been adequately processed, but no samples other than the
original Birmingham one were infected with Typhoid bacilli. No cases of Typhoid fever occurred.