London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Barnet 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barnet UDC]
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(15)
Ninety-nine samples of ice cream were taken, from retailers in the district, during the year with results as shown overleaf.
| Manufacturer. | Grade I. | Grade II. | Grade III. | Grade IV | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 36 | 13 | - | - | 49 |
| B | 36 | 4 | - | - | 40 |
| C | 3 | - | - | - | 3 |
| D | 1 | - | - | - | 1 |
| F | 5 | - | - | - | 5 |
| N | - | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| Total | 81 | 18 | Nil | Nil | 99 |
All samples of ice cream are taken to the Central Public Health
Laboratory Colindale for testing by the Methylene Blue Test.
Fifty-seven samples were taken from the factory registered in the
district with the following results:- 44 Grade I; 7 Grade II; 4 Grade
III; 2 Grade IV. The number of samples taken is not great but even
so the percentage of samples in Grades III and IV is higher than I like
to see. The laboratory states generally that over a period of say six
months 50% of the samples should be in Grade I, 80% in Grades I and II
and not more than 20% in Grade III and none in Grade IV. In this case
the percentages fall down because of two samples in Grade IV.
The low grade samples first appeared some seven months after the
factory started operations, and this coincided with the hot weather and
the seasonal demand for their products. This appears to produce some
lack of attention to comparatively minor details but which produce
immediate results in the down grading of samples. So soon as the defects
are demonstrated they are put right.
There are now 43 premises registered for the storage and sale of ice
cream, including one new registration effected during 1955.
DAIRIES. COWSHEDS AND MILKSHOPS.
The control of the production of milk is now vested in the Ministry
of Agriculture Fisheries and Food.
The local authority is responsible for the inspection and registration