View report page

SAFE MILK
Four samples of raw milk were procured in Ruislip-Northwood and tested for the presence
of Tubercle Bacilli. None was found to be contaminated. Twenty-two samples of milk
were procured and tested to ascertain whether pasteurisation or sterilisation had been
properly carried out. None of the samples failed the tests. Regular inspections of a milk
pasteurising plant in Ruislip-Northwood were maide to ensure the proper handling and processing
of the milk. In addition retail premises were inspected to ensure that the conditions
of licence were complied with.
It will be noted that there has been a reduction in the number of samples procured compared
with previous years. A high rate of sampling over several years has not, so far as the processing
plant sampled was concerned, disclosed a single failure of the prescribed tests.
For this reason the number of samples has been reduced.
LABELLING AND ADVERTISING
In addition to the work detailed, much of the general work of sampling, and scrutinising
of labels and advertisements, has the effect of affording protection to the residents of your
district as well as the rest of Middlesex. The examples of such work which I give below
are all of nationally-retailed articles of food, some manufactured in this country, others
imported from abroad.
Two samples of cream cheese were found on analysis to contain a less quantity of milk fat
than that which has been set as a standard by some Middlesex courts. In each case letters
were written to the manufacturers who agreed to raise the milk fat to conform to the standard
set.
Sodium fluoride tablets were found on analysis to be deficient of the quantity of the chemical
claimed to be present. The manufacturer was cautioned because it was considered that
the deficiency was not of such a magnitude that the efficacy of the tablets was affected.
A caution was sent to the manufacturer of "Smoked ham and beef" which was found to
contain 80% meat and not 95% which is expected of a meat product of this class.
Two samples of imported apple juice were reported upon adversely by the Public Analyst,
one because it was deficient of the claimed amount of vitamin 'C', the other because it
was deficient in fruit juice. Cautions were sent to the importers in each case.
ICE CREAM
There are in the District one hundred and fourteen premises registered for the sale of ice
cream and one for the manufacture of ice cream.
Eighty-two samples were taken during the year for examination by the Methylene Blue
Test. These were placed in the following grades:-
Grade I 46 Grade III 12
Grade II 19 Grade IV 5
Samples of ice cream for Chemical Analysis are taken by the sampling officers of the
Middlesex County Council.
30