London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Sutton and Cheam 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton and Cheam]
This page requires JavaScript
2. Sampling.
During the year, 155 samples of ice cream were taken for
provisional grading and bacteriological examination.
The following table shows the provisional gradings and
percentages for the 1949 samples, and for comparative purposes
the results of 46 samples taken in 1948:—
A. Comparative Table—Provisional Grading (1949-1948).
| 1949 Grading of Samples | 1948 Grading of Samples |
|---|---|
| 93 samples placed in Grade 1 =60.00% | 16 samples placed in Grade 1 =34.78% |
| 25 „ „ „ „ 2=16.12% | 4 „ „ „„ 2= 8.69% |
| 28 „ „ „ „ 3 = 18.06% | 17 „ „ „ „ 3 = 36.95% |
| 9 „ „ „ „ 4 =5.08% | 9 „ „ „ „ 4 = 19.56% |
| 155 | 46 |
The Ministry of Health recommend that over a given
period 50% of the vendors' samples should fall into Grade 1,
80% into Grades 1 or 2, not more than 20% into Grade 3 and
none into Grade 4. The gradings obtained in 1949 compare
favourably with the recommended standard for ice cream.
B. Comparative Table—Presence of Faecal Coli and/ or Coliforms (1949-1948).
| Grade of Sample | Percentage of samples with fa:cal coli present | Percentage of samples with Coliforms present | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 1948 | 1949 | 1948 | |
| 1 | 1.29% | — | 1.93% | 6.52% |
| 2 | — | 2.17% | 4.51% | 4.52% |
| 3 | 1.93% | — | 9.03% | 28.26% |
| 4 | 2.58% | 2.17% | 5.16% | 17.39% |
The 1949 figures show a general improvement in the
bacterial purity of samples as compared with the 1948 results.
When a sample is placed in Grade 3 or 4 the vendor is
notified accordingly. Generally speaking, it is found that this
practice creates a desire on the part of most vendors to attain
a higher grading for future samples.
Repeat samples are taken to discover the cause for low
grade results and advice is given where necessary.
20