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(2) Food Premises.—The number of inspections made to food
premises included 18 dairies, 38 bakehouses and 851 of other
premises. Special attention was given to ice cream manufacturers
and with the advent of the Ice Cream (Heat Treatment) Regulations,
1947, greater power was vested in the local authority for the
more rigid control of ice cream manufacture, thus ensuring better
protection of the public against the risk of infection. The prescription
of a legal standard for quality is long overdue.
(3) Slaughter Houses.—No slaughter house was in use during
the year, but seven licences to slaughter animals under the
Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933, were applied for and granted.
An exploratory committee formed of local authority representatives
in South-West Essex considered the provision of a municipal
abattoir but deferred their deliberations for the time being, at the
suggestion of the Minister of Food.
(4) Bacteriological Sampling.—175 samples were submitted
for bacteriological examination, 86 milk, 40 ice cream, 1 shepherds
pie, 1 liver sausage, 47 water (tap-water 15, swimming baths 27,
Wanstead Flats lake 2, wells 3).
Special attention was directed to Public Baths water and the
Wanstead Flats lake in consequence of the prevalence of poliomyelitis.

Of the 40 ice cream samples, 11 were found to be bacteriologically
unsatisfactory. In consequence of inspection and action
taken, marked improvement was effected, and only in one instance
was it necessary to cancel the registration of premises used for the
sale and manufacture of ice cream.