View report page

31
Representations were made to the Minister of Health, (a)
seeking legislation for the compulsory medical examination of all
persons engaged in the preparation and sale of ice cream, and (b)
urging the formulation of compulsory standards both chemical and
bacteriological.
Your Committee's Public Analyst reported as follows:—
"We are taking this opportunity of again repeating our
view that the present position in respect to ice cream is unsatisfactory.
Quite apart from the major question of a standard for
fat content in ice cream there is the equally important question
of cleanliness. While the argument against the fixing of a
minimum standard of fat in ice cream, namely, that ice cream
of any grade of nutritional value has a psychological value at the
present time in adding variety to our diet, is sound, we venture
to assert that it must run parallel with a proper condition of
cleanliness. Bacteriological examination by itself is not complete
or certain evidence of cleanliness, but a bad bacteriological condition
is a safe indication of the necessity for a special examination
of the premises in which the ice cream is prepared, and
such inspection is vital when it is remembered that while the
bacteriological examination indicates a contamination, it does not
indicate at what stage the contamination occurred. It may
have been in the manufacture or during storage, or even at the
time of sale."
Bacteriological Examination.
Thirty-seven samples were submitted for bacteriological examination.
The results are classified below:—
Very satisfactory 7
Satisfactory 19
Passable 4
Unsatisfactory 7
The above results compare favourably with those taken in other
districts.
Several local manufacturers have samples taken at their own
expense by a private bacteriologist, thus enabling them to maintain
a proper standard of cleanliness.
(c) Meat and Other Foods.
The Live Stock (Restriction of Slaughtering) Order, 1940, continued
in force and no slaughtering was carried out during the year,