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(iv) Biological Tests.—35 samples of milk were submitted to a biological
test for tuberculosis, none of which was found positive.
(v) Milk and Dairies Orders, 1926 and 1938: Inspection of Dairy
Herds.—Two inspections were made by the Veterinary Officers of the Ministry
of Agriculture and Fisheries. The Ministry's Divisional Inspector states that
one cow was removed from a farm under the Tuberculosis Order on clinical
evidence.
(vi) Legal Proceedings.—28 complaints of the presence of foreign bodies
in milk were received and investigated during 1947. Legal proceedings were
taken in 11 cases, involving 4 firms. One was fined a total of £140 and £9 9s.
costs in respect of 7 cases, another was fined a total of £25 and £3 3s. costs
in respect of 2 cases, the third was fined £20 and £3 3s. costs in respect of
1 case, and the fourth was fined £10 in respect of 1 case. An appeal against
the Magistrates' decision in this latter case was dismissed, with costs against
the appellants, at the Chelmsford Quarter Sessions.
(vii) Registration.—No application for registration was refused during
1947.
(viii) Articles of Food Surrendered.
During the year the following articles were surrendered and condemned
as being unfit for the food of man :—
Bacon and Ham—67½ lbs.; Biscuits—300 lbs., 5 tins; Butter—½ lb.;
Cereals—30 cwts. 93 lbs., 209 packets, 21 tins; Cheese—147 lbs., 3 packets,
50 cartons; Cocoa—55 tins; Confectionery—162 lbs., 436 cartons; Eggs
(shell)—836, 1 case; Eggs (dried)—7 lbs., 17 tins, 4 packets; Fish—44
cwts. 1 lb., 5 boxes; Fish (tinned)—942 tins; Fish (shell)—3 cwts. 45½ lbs.
28 jars; Fish (cakes)—6,581; Fruit (fresh)—1 cwt. 60 lbs.; Fruit (tinned
and bottled)—370 tins, 10 bottles; Fruit (dried)—171 lbs.; Flavouring—32
bottles; Herbs—31 packets; Jam, Preserves, etc.—542 tins, 83 jars; Jellies
—9 packets; Margarine—8 lbs.; Meat (fresh)—9 cwt. 105g lbs.; Meat
(tinned)—1,812 tins, 24 lbs.; Meat (pies)—112; Medical foods—1 tin, 44
jars; Milk (tinned)—4,678 tins; Milk (dried)—162 lbs., 25 tins, 5 packets;
Paste (meat, fish, etc.)—406 tins, 8 jars; Puddings (tinned)—15 tins;
Pudding mixtures—225 packets; Poultry—72 lbs.; Poultry (tinned)— 2
tins; Pickles, Sauces, etc.—218 jars, 140 tins, 11 bottles; Raising and
Baking Powder—10 tins; Rabbits—230½ lbs., 63; Soup—183 tins; Suet—
½ lb.; Sugar—16 cwts. 74 lbs.; Tea—78½ lbs.; Vegetables (fresh)—2 boxes;
Vegetables (dried)—10 cwt. 21¾ lbs.; Vegetables (tinned and bottled)—
1,148 tins, 1 bottle.
Food and Drugs Act.—During 1947, 245 samples (235 formal and 10
informal) of Food and Drugs were obtained. 2 formal samples and 6 informal
samples were not satisfactory as follows:—
(a) Self-raising Flour.—2 samples (1 formal and 1 informal) were found to
have an objectionable acid taste. Detailed analysis of both samples
indicated that the acidity was due, in each instance, to the presence
of an excess of the acid consituent of the aerating or self-raising
ingredients, probably the result of uneven mixing of these ingredients.
A letter of warning was sent to the firm involved.
(b) Almond flavoured Cake Flour (formal).—This preparation was found
on analysis to be a satisfactory cake mixture, but was very poor in
respect of its almond flavouring.
No action was taken.
(c) Malt Vinegar (informal).—This sample was deficient in strength, containing
only 3.42 per cent. of acetic acid. The Analyst considered this
deficiency to be caused by the growth of acetic bacteria which had
produced gelatinous masses in the vinegar. This condition may result
through air having access to the vinegar and may be avoided by
efficient sterilisation of the vinegar.
A letter of warning was sent by the Town Clerk to the manufacturer
in this case.