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The Order provides, inter alia, that ice cream must contain at least 5% fat, 10%
sugar and 7½% milk solids other than fat. An analysis of the figures returned by the
Analyst of the 27 samples submitted show an average of 10.6# fat, 14# sugar and 11.9#
solids not fat, which is greatly in excess of the minimum required by the law.
The fat content in ice cream is not necessarily fat derived from milk and the
use of the word "cream" is apt to be misleading. Margarine is the ingredient very
largely used to supply the fat content. Cream derived from milk is sometimes used if
a high class product is required. This is not in common use, however, as the cost of
the completed article would be prohibitive.
In addition to the abovp, 43 samples of ice cream were submitted to the Public
Health Laboratory Service for bacteriological examination and the following results
were returned:-
Grade
1
2
3
4
Number of Samples
32
6
4
l
Samples are subjected to the Methylene Blue Reductuse Test and graded 1, 2, 3
and 4, according to the time taken for the colour of the test solution to disappear.
This gives an approximate indication of the number of bacteria present, and samples
are divided broadly into the categories, Good, Average, Bad and Very Bad. Where samples
consistently fail to reach Grades 1 and 2, it is reasonable to regard this as indicating
defects of manufacture or of handling, which necessitates further investigation.
In the case of samples falling into Grades 3 or 4, which is deemed unsatisfactory,
the premises were visited and the cause of the trouble investigated, after which further
samples were taken to ensure that conditions were satisfactory.
Iced Lollies.
21 samples of iced lollies were also submitted for bacteriological examination
and all were pronounced satisfactory.
Foreign Master in Articles of Food.
In the course of duty the presence of foreign matter is frequently found in
articles of food delivered to the consumer. Such articles take the form of glass
splinters in bottles of milk, pieces of wood in toffee, nails in lard and margarine,
and unfortunately others such as used and dirty finger bandages in bread and cakes
and cigarette ends in loaves.
Section 3 of the Food & Drugs Act, 1938, provides that if a person sells to the
prejudice of the purchaser any food or drug which is not of the nature, or not of the
substance or not of the quality of the food or drug demanded by the purchaser, he shall,
subject to the provisions of Section 4, be guilty of an offence.
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