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ICE-CREAM.
A total of 71 samples of ice-cream was examined for bacterial quality
by submission to the methylene blue reduction test.
In addition 6 samples of coloured ice-cream were submitted for a
plate count test.
The samples submitted for the methylene blue test were placed in the
following provisional grades:—
Grade I 32 samples
Grade II 16 „
Grade III 15
Grade IV 8 „
Grade I and II samples can be considered satisfactory; only about a
fifth of the samples taken from any dealer should be of Grade III quality,
and none of Grade IV.
In a table such as the above the proportion of unsatisfactory samples
will, of course, be influenced by the percentage taken from suspected
sources. It is, however, interesting to note that all 8 Grade IV samples
were taken from 4 retailers purchasing their supplies from outside the
District.
Representations were made to the vendors concerned and resulted in
a change of supplier in one instance and, in the remainder, to much
improved results on subsequent sampling.
Of the 6 plate count tests, only one was considered unsatisfactory.
This was a sample manufactured on his own premises by a cafe proprietor
who subsequently ceased the practice.
MEAT.
The two slaughterhouses in the District have not been licensed since
1940. In 1948 one licence was issued under the Slaughter of Animals
Act, 1933, for the purpose of slaughtering at a public institution in the
District. The only carcases examined were occasional cottagers' pigs and
meat delivered to local butchers' shops from the Wholesale Meat Supply
Association situated outside the District.
FOOD PREMISES.
During the year considerable time was devoted to the routine inspection
of food shops and other premises where food is prepared. A register
of all such premises has been compiled and includes the following:—
Confectioners 47
Butchers 29
Fishmongers (Wet and Dry) 11
Fishmongers (Fried) 8
Bakers 21
Greengrocers 40
Ice-cream premises 75
Cafes and Restaurants 64
Grocers 71
Inspections are based on Sections 13 of the Food and Drugs Act,
1938, and considerable progress can be recorded in overtaking the large
arrears of work arising as a result of the war years.
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