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
Redbridge 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Redbridge]
This page requires JavaScript
106
registration of ice-cream manufacturers and vendors was
carried out under Section 16 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955.
During the year six applications for registration were considered
in respect of premises within the Borough. Registration
was approved in respect of one premise for the manufacture,
storage and sale of ice-cream and 4 premises for the storage
and sale of ice-cream. An inspection of the remaining applicant's
premises, vehicle and equipment revealed unsatisfactory
conditions which were reported to the Committee who, under
the powers contained in Sections 16 and 18 of the Food and
Drugs Act, 1955, served notice on him to appear before the
Council to show cause why his application should not be
refused but he failed to attend before the Committee and no
registration was granted.
The Food Standards (Ice-cream) Regulations, 1959 lay
down standards for ice-cream but no samples were submitted
for chemical analysis due in large measure to the shortage of
Inspectorate staff.
Samples for bacteriological examination are taken from April to September and at regular intervals during the winter months as supplied by all manufacturers to mobile salesmen and local retailers. Samples are repeated after unsatisfactory results. In 1965 11 samples were submitted for examination with the following results: —
| No. of Samples | Ministry of Health Provisional grade | % of Total | Unsatisfactory Samples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | I | 64 | — |
| 2 | II | 18 | 2 |
| 1 | III | 9 | 1 |
| 1 | IV | 9 | 1 |
| 11 | 100 | 4 |
The four unsatisfactory samples failed the Methylene
Blue Reduction test.
Difficulties in supervising the manufacture and sale of
ice-cream from vehicles which fall outside the definition of
premises contained in the Food and Drugs Act, 1955 would be
removed if all forms of manufacture and sale were to be registered
as well as the person responsible for such production
and sale even if from a stall, barrow, vehicle, etc.