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standard and, in order to achieve this, much stricter bacteriological control of
imports of coconut is now undertaken at the ports of entry, and Ceylonese producers
have been advised by the Ceylon Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research on
methods to prevent the contamination of the product there. Heat treatment of the
coconut in this country before use is now also being undertaken.
Marshmallows 44
As a result of a report that food poisoning organisms had been found in
dessicated coconut used in the manufacture of a batch of marshmallows held by a
well-known firm of retailers, all stocks at branches in the Borough were withdrawn
from sale and samples taken for bacteriological examination. When it was ascertained
that two samples contained food poisoning organisms, all stocks were
collected and destroyed.
When new stocks were delivered these were sampled and found to be satisfactory.
Chinese Whole Egg and Egg Albumin 2
These were both found to be free from food poisoning organisms. These commodities,
which are supplied in tins, have been found in the past to be contaminated
with food poisoning organisms.
Peanut Butter 1
Marzipan 1
These samples were taken from houses where suspected food poisoning had
occurred. No food poisoning organisms were found in the samples.
Swabs from uneviscerated poultry
in shops 533
Minced beef, sausages,
sweetbreads, offal etc. 145
These swabs and samples were taken in connection with a survey being carried
out by the Central Public Health Laboratory Service to determine the proportion of
poultry on retail sale infected with food poisoning organisms and the extent of
the risk of cross-contamination to other foodstuffs.
The survey was conducted in Hendon and Finchley.
In all, 1046 cloacal swabs from chickens were taken and examined and the
infection rate found to be low (0.3 per cent). Swabs from 12 turkeys were negative
and 5 (25 per cent) of 20 from ducks were found to be infected with salmonella.
The risk of cross-contamination to other foods from chickens and turkeys is
therefore very small, but as it appeared that ducks eviscerated in retail shops
may be an important source of salmonella, it was arranged that in 1962 an investigation
of these on a larger scale should be carried out.
72