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before the Magistrates at the hearing of the application. Reports on
35 applications were made during the year.
Bacteriological Examination of Foodstuffs
Samples submitted for bacteriological examination numbered 1,161.
These comprised 827 samples of desiccated coconut, 151 imported dried
and frozen egg, egg albumen, spray, crystals, etc., 26 ice cream,
38 tuberculin tested (pasteurised) milk, 16 pasteurised milk, 14 sterilised
milk, 1 cooked salt beef, 4 sugar confection in sea-shells,
1 ice cream lolly, and 83 swabs taken from poultry premises.
Six samples of dried egg albumen crystals and one egg albumen sample
were found to contain various salmonella organisms and the packages were
detained under the Public Health (Imported Food) Regulations for re-export
or heat treatment. Six samples of desiccated coconut contained salmonellae
and were released for either sterilisation under supervision, or
for re-export for processing. Two tuberculin tested (pasteurised) milk,
samples failed the Methylene Blue Test, repeat samples being satisfactory.
Five swabs taken from poultry premises were positive to salmonellae.
Towards the end of 1961 illness occurred among 300 boys at a Naval
Training establishment in Suffolk, alleged to have been caused by eating
raw apples contaminated with an organic phosphorous insecticide to an
amount equivalent to 10 parts per million. The apples were supplied
by a wholesaler in Spitalfields Market, in this Borough, who obtained
them from a farm in Kent. Exhaustive investigations were carried out
and subsequent reports failed to substantiate the alleged cause of the
outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting.
Bakehouses and Bakers Shoos
A. summons was issued against the proprietor of a baker's shop for
selling cake containing a foreign body. A fine of £10 with costs of
£5.5.0d was imposed.
Chemical Sampling of Foodstuffs
Samples submitted for analysis to the Public Analyst numbered 412
for the year. The Report of the Public Analyst appears on pages 54-56.
Export Certificates
94 certificates were issued in respect of the examination of a
variety of foodstuffs exported to the United States, South America,
Canada, Sweden^ Italy, Malta, Israel, Spain and Kuwait.
Before issuing these certificates an inspection of the foodstuffs
to be exported is carried out, and on occasion samples are taken for
analysis. Where necessary investigation is made into the method of
production.
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