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HYGIENE OF FOOD
Food Poisoning
Three notifications of food poisoning were received during 1962. All of these were
confirmed bacteriologically as being due to infection with the organism Salmonella Typhi
Murium.
One case notified as gastro-enteritis was subsequently found to be food poisoning
caused by Salmonella Bredeney, and twenty cases notified as dysentery were subsequently
confirmed as being due to Salmonellas, types Heidelberg and Bredeney, and one untyped.
The Medical Research Council sent an observer to try to trace the origins of the type
Heidelberg and Bredeney infections, but nothing conclusive was obtained from these
researches, though it seemed likely that cooked meats were the source of infection in the
first cases of both illnesses.
Personal Hygiene
The free washing facilities in the public conveniences, which were brought into operation
in September, 1950, continued to be available throughout 1962. During that period
6,800 paper towels were issued free, and also 943 linen towels, which were provided at a cost
of 2d. per person.
Milk
The Milk (Special Designation) Regulations, 1960, transferred licensing to the food
and drugs authority, which for this area is the Middlesex County Council (see report of
Public Control Officer, pages 40,41, 42, and 43). Seven distributors of bottled milk registered
under the Milk and Dairies (General) Regulations, 1959, making a total of 39 on the register.
Ice Cream
The Ice Cream (Heat Treatment, etc.) Regulations, 1947-1952. As there were no
manufacturers in the Borough, temperature control observations, as laid down in these
Regulations, were not required. Routine work was carried out under Article 4 of the 1947
Regulations to check the conservation of ice-cream in cinemas.
Food Sampling
The bacteriological analyses of 169 food samples, taken during the year, were carried
out by the Public Health Laboratory Service.
One hundred and thirty-one of these specimens were ice-cream samples covering six
makes of ice-cream, and following bacteriological analyses the ice-creams were graded as
follows:—
Excellent 95
Satisfactory 32
Doubtful 2
Unsatisfactory 2
These ice-cream figures were very much improved on those for 1961, and as our local
control is much more strict than elsewhere, being based on a bacterial count rather than a
rough chemical one, which is sufficient for statutory requirements, this is very satisfactory.
Thirty-five samples were taken of imitation cream. Thirty-four of these were satisfactory
and one was unsatisfactory.
Other samples taken:—
Steak Satisfactory
Peas Satisfactory
Potatoes Satisfactory
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