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It was not practicable to hold another Clean Food Exhibition this year, but enquiries
were constantly being received in regard to some aspect of the Exhibition held in the
previous year, showing a much appreciated desire on the part of the little food traders
to ensure that their premises were satisfactory before the anticipated Food Hygiene
Regulations come into force.
(a) Milk Supply
The number of milk distributors registered at the close of the year was 172, an increase
of 23, and the two-large dairies London Co-operative Society Limited and Mortlocks Modern
Dairies Limited, continued to function satisfactorily.
The following licences were issued to use special designations prescribed in the Milk
(Special Designation) Regulations 1949-1954.
Pasteurised Milk:
Dealer's licence 108
Supplementary licence 12
Dealer's (Pasteuriser's) Licence 2
Dealer's licence pasteurised (Tuberculin Tested) 3
Supplementary licence, Pasteurised (Tuberculin Tested) 2
Sterilised Milk:
Dealers licence 164
Supplementary licence 13
Dealers (Steriliser's) Licence 1
Tuberculin Tested Milk:
Dealer s license 21
Supplementary licence 10
One hundred and nine samples of milk were submitted for chemical analysis i.e. fat
content etc., all of which were satisfactory and 91 samples were submitted for bacteriological
examination. All these samples were also satisfactory.
One sample of dried milk was reported upon as being unsatisfactory but it was not possible
to trace the cause of the complaint precisely, although there were good grounds for believing
that the contamination occurred in the purchaser's home.
(b) Meat Inspection
The three licensed slaughterhouses in the Borough continued to operate and the following
table shows the number of animals killed and examined.
Cattle Calves Sheep Pige Total
789 6 4,593 1,921 7,309
There were 88 butchers shops in the town and these premises were also inspected with
regard to general hygienic conditions and stock carried.
Altogether 5,113¼ 1bs of meat was certified as being unfit for human consumption.
No further action was taken with regard to the establishment of a regional public
abattoir The corporation continued to be members of the Conference of South West Essex
Authorities but the report on the recommendations of the Herbert Committee on the siting
of slaughterhouses was received only at the end of the year and the Government did not then
announce their attitude towards the recommendations of the Committee. It is pleasing to
report that as a result of recent legislation all animals killed for human food must be
slaughtered humanely.
(c) Ice Cream
Twenty-two premises remained on the register for the manufacture of ice cream 275
premises were registered for the sale of ice cream.
A dequate inspection of the places of manufacture was carried out and 35 samples of
ice cream were submitted for bacteriological examination, with the following results:
Grade I-18: Grade II- 14: Grade III- 2: Grade IV- 1:
Unsatisfactory samples- 2, Follow up samples were taken where the first sample
proved to be entirely unsatisfactory.