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66
ICE CREAM
No change occurred in the number of premises registered for the
manufacture of ice cream, though during the year one manufacturer
transferred his business from High Street, Wealdstone, to Pinner Road.
Harrow. The number of premises registered at the end of the year being
two.
There was, however, a marked increase in the number of vehicles
operating in the district that were equipped for the making of soft ice
cream. These are specially equipped and most are of modern design and
well maintained. The majority of retailers, however, continued to sell prepacked
ice cream.
During the year twelve samples of pre-packed ice cream, 26 of soft
ice cream and 40 of loose ice cream were submitted for examination. Of
these 78 samples 55 were reported as satisfactory, and the remaining 23
failed to reach the standards required. In each of these cases follow up
action was taken and ultimately further samples were submitted to the
Colindale Laboratory.
OTHER FOODS AND FOOD HYGIENE
Food shops were visited regularly as a routine and though the calls
made upon the services of the Public Health Inspectors resulted in a
longer interval than is desirable occurring between visits, the general
standard of cleanliness in most food shops remained high. There were
lapses on the part of a few traders and it was necessary to remind these of
the provisions and requirements of the Food and Drugs Act, but overall
the year was one of steady progress.
Many factors have assisted in securing the standards that are enjoyed
today not the least being the ever increasing interest of the public in clean
food. Over the years every opportunity has been taken of talking at
meetings of Women's Organisations on this and allied subjects and the
part the shopping public now play in the raising of standards is an
extremely important one. Then improved types of material which are not
only pleasing in appearance but easily cleansed have helped. Likewise the
wider use of the refrigerated display cabinet and the pre-packing of the
food stuffs found on sale in the modern self-service shop.
All, however, is not on the credit side. Far too many members of the
public still take dogs into food shops. Many shoppers still smoke over
open food stuffs. Supplies being delivered to shops are still left on the
highway far too long before being taken into the premises, and many
greengrocers remain reluctant to raise the height of goods on display at
forecourts above the minimum 18". Then much still remains to be done
about the condition of many delivery vehicles, particularly those in which
meat is conveyed. The cleanliness of yards and the disposal of waste are