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31.
One sample of beef chipolatas (cooked) was submitted as a
result of a complaint of a bitter taste. On analysis this
sample was found to contain fifty parts per million of Sulphur
Dioxide. The Analyst was of the opinion that the original
preservative content was sufficiently high in the uncooked
chipolatas to account for the "taste" trouble. Formal followup
samples were taken at the retail shop in question and these
were certified to be genuine and to contain preservative within
the prescribed limits.
Continued attention was given to the metallic contamination
of ice lollies and although the Revised Recommendations of the
Food Standards Committee (Ministry of Food) prescribed a limit
of 1.0 p.p.m. lead in ice cream and ice lollies, the Council
resolved that as a general principle 0.5 p.p.m. be accepted as a
reasonable standard for these commodities sold in the area.
Further, the Chief Sanitary Inspector was instructed to write to
vendors and manufacturers and also the local authority in whose
district the lolly or ice cream was manufactured where a sample
indicated a lead content greater than this amount.
Samples of ice lollies were taken from the main sources of
supply coming into the Borough and of these one fruit flavoured
lolly was found to contain 1.4 p.p.m. lead content and the subsequent
follow-up sample a lead content of 2.0 p.p.m. This rather high
contamination was taken up vigorously with the manufacturers
concerned, whose factory is situated in a neighbouring Borough.
The management gave immediate and wholehearted co-operation, so
much so that manufacture was suspended until the equipment had
been thoroughly overhauled and in part renewed. Follow-up
samples, not taken within the year under review, indicated that
the lead content was considerably reduced and within the limits
set by the Council.
Four other samples of ice lollies exceeded 0.5 p.p.m. and
routine action was taken to secure a reduction in contamination.
A sample of bottled still laucnade was certified to contain
0.3 p.p.m. lead content which slightly exceeded the limit of
0.2 p.p.m. fixed by the Analysts, The manufacturers were contacted
and were of the opinion that natural lemon juice imported from
Italy contained the excess lead as all manufacturing plant was
comprised of stainless steel®
One sample of glycerine was found to have a specific gravity
of 1.244 as against 1.260 as stated on the labels of the bottles
in which the glycerine was sold, equivalent to the addition of
approximately 6% of water. The glycerine was found to be old
stock and the remainder was withdrawn from sale.