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36
FOOD ADMINISTRATION (contd.)
Milk:
Much thought is being given to the reduction in the number of milk samples
to be taken in future in view of the fact that the whole of the milk supplied
in the Borough is from half a dozen or so suppliers. The number of milk
samples to be taken in the ensuing year will be considerably reduced, unless
special circumstances arise.
Bacteriological Sampling:
28 samples of foodstuffs, including milk from schools and day nurseries
were submitted for bacteriological, methylene blue and phosphatase examination.
Details as follows:-
Result.
22 Pasteurised Milk Methylene Blue test was NOT
decolourised in ½ hour.
Phosphatase Blue units less than 2.3
5 Desiccated Coconut Organisms of Salmonella Group
NOT isolated.
1 Liver No pathogenic organisms isolated.
The bacteriological sampling of foodstuffs is considered to be of the
utmost importance. This work must have high priority, but the regular
sampling of washup waters and the swabbing of feeding and kitchen utensils,
food preparation tables, cleansing and drying cloths, is considered to be
a vital necessity not only in enabling us to assess the risk of contamination
in food establishments, restaurants, cafes, canteens and public houses, but
to provide sufficient evidence required to raise the standards of food
hygiene in all places where food is manufactured, stored and sold.
Unfortunately it is to be deplored that this vitally important work has
suffered badly during the year owing to lack of staff and one eagerly looks
forward to the time when this important work may be accelerated to such a
degree so as to reduce the risk of food poisoning and cross infection to a
minimum.
Prepacked foods:
The upward trend of prepacked foods continued in 1960, and being supplied
by a reducing small number of reputable manufacturers it may be felt that
sampling by the Local Authorities at the source of manufacture should suffice.
This has been considered in Shoreditch, but in view of the many varying
sources of supply of the raw materials, prolonged storage under unsuitable
conditions in warehouses, possible insect infestations, deterioration of
preserving and colouring substances, imperfect canning and packing, and
possible damage in transit and other perhaps less important reasons, routine
sampling of all prepacked foods must continue at the retailers' establishment.