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There are two food manufacturers within the borough who export food, and
to comply with the regulations of the importing countries a certificate of fitness
must accompany the food. Thirteen certificates were issued.
Registration of Food Premises
All premises used for the sale or the manufacture for the purpose of sale of
ice-cream, or the storage of ice-cream intended for sale, or the preparation or
manufacture of sausages or potted, pressed, pickled or preserved food intended
for sale, must be registered for that purpose by the local authority. There are 631
premises in the borough registered in respect of ice-cream and 359 in respect of
sausages, etc.
Under the provisions of the Middlesex County Council Act, 1950. all hawkers
of food must be licensed by the local authority. In all cases the vehicles and food
storage arrangements are inspected and must be satisfactory before a licence is
granted.
At the end of the year there were 45 persons licensed as hawkers of food by
the Council.
In accordance with the provisions of the Ice-cream (Heat Treatment, etc.)
Regulations, 1959, a total of 55 samples of loose or soft ice-cream was submitted
to the public health laboratory for bacteriological examination. The seventeen
samples falling within the grades III or IV as determined by the methylene blue
test were considered unsatisfactory but after advice to traders on proper methods
of sterilising equipment and utensils, satisfactory results were obtained.
Pre-packed ice-cream is now mainly in the hands of two large national manufacturers
who exercise strict quality and hygiene control and it is generally agreed
to be a safe food.
Emphasis in sampling is placed, therefore, on the individual manufacturers of
loose ice-cream from the continuous extruder type of machine.
Food Poisoning
This aspect of food control is described in the section of this report on the
Prevalence and Control of Infectious disease.
Milk, Dairies and Cream Substitutes
The Milk (Special Designations) Specified Areas Order, 1951, restricts the sale
of milk by retail in this borough to the designated milks, i.e. Pasteurised, Sterilised.
Ultra Heat Treated and Untreated.
The Milk (Special Designation) Regulations 1963/65 prescribe the specific
tests for these milks and require any person carrying out the production, treatment,
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