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Food and Drugs Sampling.— During 1953 the following samples for analysis were taken in
the Borough by the Public Control Department of the Middlesex County Council:—
No. of No. found
Samples unsatisfactory
Milk, various 226 17
Arrowroot 1 —
Cakes (various) 21 —
Cake flour 1 —
Coconut, dessicated 1 —
Cherries in syrup 1 —
Cocoa 1 —
Coffee and chicory essence 3 —
Condensed milk 2 —
Cooked meats 3 —
Cream 6 1
Drugs 7 —
Evaporated milk 1 —
Fish (various) 30 1
Fish paste 4 —
Fruit syrup 1 —
Gelatine 2 —
Ground almonds 2 —
Honey 1 —
Ice cream 7 3
Jam 1 —
Jelly 4 —
Junket 1 —
Lemon curd 1 —
Lemonade powder 1 —
Marzipan 1 —
Meat paste 3 —
Minced meat 16 —
Mincemeat 2 —
Mustard 1 —
Non-brewed condiment 2
Prawns 1 —
Salad 1 —
Sausages (various) 28 2
Soup 1 —
Spirits (various) 38 3
Suet 4 —
Tea 1 —
Tomato ketchup 1 —
Victoria plums (tinned) 6 —
Vinegar 23 6
White pepper 1 —
Yoghourt 2 —
461 33
" With regard to the unsatisfactory milk samples, five were of hot milk. Two, from one restaurant,
contained added water, and the proprietor received a caution. The other three showed fat deficiencies,
the proprietors were warned and subsequent follow-up samples were genuine. The remaining
irregular samples were all of ' new milk' and all showed small fat deficiencies. Seven farmers were
involved, but in each case it was concluded that the milk was genuine as from the cow.
The irregular sample of cream was slightly deficient in fat, but as another sample of the same
make was genuine, no further action was deemed necessary.
The unsatisfactory sample of fish was the sale of smoked cod for smoked haddock.
The three samples of ice-cream were deficient in fat. The vendor was prosecuted and fined B
with two guineas costs.
The two samples of sausages contained sulphur dioxide. Its presence was not declared, but the
statutory notice is now properly exhibited in the seller's shop.
The three samples of spirits were all of whisky sold by a restaurant, and contained added water.
The firm was prosecuted and fined £3 with three guineas costs.
The six samples of vinegar were cases of the sale of non-brewed condiment for vinegar. Four
traders were involved and official cautions were issued."
Food Hygiene.— In the report for 1950, the various methods used to encourage the policy of
"clean food, handled by clean hands and transported, prepared and stored under clean conditions"
were described. During 1953, the work was concentrated on regular visiting and inspection, and a total
of 1,045 visits were made. The response by the traders and employees was fairy good, but there is still
considerable room for improvement. As a result of these visits, the following works were carried out
at food premises:—
30