View report page

14
Analysis of Food and Drugs. During the year the Public Analyst analysed
618 samples, including 562 informal and 56 formal. Of these, 25 informal and
3 formal samples were reported to be adulterated, giving a percentage adulteration
of 4-5, compared with 2.8 in 1946. The adulterated samples included chillies, 1 ;
coffee and chicory essence, 1; milk, 7; patent medicines, 4; sardines, 5; anchovy
paste, 1 ; dried thyme, 1; jam, 1; lard, 1; meat cubes, 1 ; meat extract, 1 ;
salad dressing, 1; sausages, 3.
Unsound Food. During the year 123 tons of food was surrendered as unfit
for human consumption. Most of this was utilised for animal feeding or for
fertilisers. No seizures were made.
Food Poisoning. The number of notifications of food poisoning was 10.
Ice Cream. 49 samples of ice cream and ingredients for manufacture were
examined by the methylene blue test; in those cases where the grading was low
repeat samples were taken and the manufacturing methods investigated and
advice given as necessary.
The Ice Cream (Heat Treatment, etc.) Regulations, 1947, came into force on
the 1st May. These Regulations made under the provisions of the Food and
Drugs Act, 193i, provide, inter alia, that ice cream mixtures intended for sale for
human consumption shall be raised to and kept at a temperature of 150° F. for
30 minutes or, alternatively, of not less than 160° F. for 10 minutes before freezing.
The Regulation does not apply to a " complete cold mix " which is a product
capable of being manufactured into ice cream with no addition except that of water.
Owing to grave difficulties in supply of certain essential recording instruments,
the Regulations were not in full operation during the year.
PREVALENCE AND CONTROL OF
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Incidence. The numbers of cases of notifiable infectious diseases which
occurred during the year after correction of diagnosis were as follows :—