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23
ICE CREAM.
Number of premises registered—
As Manufacturers 34
(Of this number only 18 are actually manufacturing
at the moment).
For Sale or Storage 152
(Of this number only 100 are actually selling
at the moment).
Number of Samples taken during 1947 53
Results of Samples taken—
Satisfactory 34
Unsatisfactory 19
Towards the end of 1946 your Council gave consideration to
existing legislation for the control of possible outbreaks of enteric
fever due to ice cream. It was felt that existing legislation did not
afford the necessary control by the Council of persons engaged in
the manufacture and sale of ice cream.; and, in order to safeguard
the public as far as possible, your Council authorised the Medical
Officer of Health to issue, on behalf of the Council, medical certificates
of freedom from enteric infection to manufacturers of ice
cream whose employees have voluntarily submitted themselves to
medical examination.
An intensive endeavour was therefore made to enlist the
co-operation of all local manufacturers.
All volunteers were submitted to a special medical examination,
which included blood tests to ascertain freedom from typhoid
and other enteric infection. Most of these tests revealed freedom
from enteric infection, but weak positive results were obtained in a
number of employees who had preventive inoculations against
typhoid and paratyphoid fevers whilst serving in H.M. Forces
during the war. In these cases the blood tests were followed by
a series of urine tests, rectal swabs and further blood tests until
the employee was considered to be free from danger of transmitting
enteric infection.
After all members of the staff of any manufacturer of ice
cream had been found to satisfy these tests, the manufacturer was
granted a certificate, which he could display on his premises if he
wished. Of the 18 manufacturers of ice cream in the area, 14 were
granted certificates. Unfortunately the Council has no power
to compel the examination of employees who decline to be examined,
but it is hoped that the display of certificates by those manufacturers
who have obtained them may have the desired effect.