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ICE CREAM. Fifty-six bacteriological examinations of samples of Ice
Cream were carried out during the year, with the following results
Grade I 11 (19.7%)
Grade II 13 (23.2%)
Grade III 13 (23.2%)
Grade IV 19 (33.9%)
Having regard to the great difficulty experienced by
manufacturers in securing the desired equipment, it will be readily
appreciated that ideal production methods cannot yet be obtained.
Nevertheless, the constant supervision of premises, both of
manufacturers and retailers, and the ready acceptance of advice by
those concerned, is stoadily bringing about a marked improvement in
the purity standards of ice cream.
Bight samples of ice cream were submitted to the Public
Analyst for chemical analysis, all being reported as genuine.
ICE LOLLIES. Two bacteriological examinations and two chemical
examinations of ice lollies were made during the year, with satisfactay
results.
During the month of May information was received that
three children had purchased ice lollies from a street vendor^
when, in each case, these were placed in the mouth, they had
adhered to the palate. A police constable had assisted in tho
removal of the lollies. and in so doing had unavoidably caused some
injury to tho children's mouths, resulting in tho adherence of blood
and mucous membrane to the lollies. Tho children were immediately
removed to hospital, where it was ascertained they were suffering
from ice burns. After treatment they were sent home.
The matter was immediately investigated by officers of
the Public Health Department, and the vendor, who was selling ice
cream and ice lollies from a box-tricycle was interviewed. Samples
of these commodities were secured and submitted to the Public Analyst
for chemical analysis. It was established that the cause of the
accidents was the supercooling of 'the ice lollies by direct contact
with solid carbon dioxide a freezing medium with a temperature of
112° below zero (Fahrenheit). The main factors giving rise to this
incident were (i) the vendor being an inexperienced youth who had
recently left school, and had apparently received no proper
instructions in connection with the duties he was to performs (ii)
solid carbon dioxide was permitted to come into direct contact with
the unprotected ice lollies, being broken into small pieces and
sprinkled over the lollies, whereas it should have been packed in
an outer container surrounding the lollies, or, alternatively, the
lollies should have been wrapped. It was interesting to note that
other prepacked goods - ice cream tubs and wafers - were not
affected; (iii) no printed instructions were supplied with the
solid carbon dioxide detailing the precautions to be observed.
A report was immediately made to the Fulham Borough
Council, from whose area the vendor was trading with the tricycle,
requesting them to make a thorough investigation, and warn the vendor
of the dangers involved in the indiscriminate handling of solid
carbon dioxide. A similar report was sent to the manufacturers of
tho solid carbon dioxide, asking for their observations, together with
details of the instructions they issued when packing this commodity.
At the same time, a further copy of the report vas forwarded to the
Ice Cream Alliance, asking for their co-operation in preventing a
rocurronce of this incident, and finally, tho Ministry of Health
were placed in full possession of the facts.
Within a few days of the above incident a conference
was held between representatives of the Ice Cream Alliance, tho
manufacturers of tho refrigerant, and officers of both Chelsea and
Fulham Borough Councils, when it was agreod that the solid carbon
dioxide should not be utilised in an unwrapped condition.