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The Milk (Special Designations) (Special Areas) Order, 1951, came into operation
on 1st October, 1951 This Order defined the County of Middlesex as an area
in which the use of a special designation becomes obligatory for the purpose of all
sales of milk by retail for human consumption (other than a catering sale). The
special designations permitted are 'sterilised' pasteurised and 'tuberculin tested'.
Eleven samples of pasteurised milk were tested. The pasteurisation was found
to be satisfactory in 9 and slightly unsatisfactory in 2, The attention of the firms
concerned was drawn to these results.
Two complaints were received of dirty milk bottles. In one case a warning
letter was sent and in the other, proceedings resulted in an absolute discharge but
costs of six guineas were awarded to the Council.
ICE CREAM. Under the Food and Drugs Act, 'premises used for the sale or the
manufacture for the purpose of sale, of ice-cream, or the storage of ice-cream intended
for sale' must be registered. This does not apply to premises used primarily
as a club, hotel, inn or restaurant and only to a theatre, cinematograph theatre,
music hall or concert hall if the ice-cream is manufactured on the premises. The
number of premises registered at the end of the year was 244,
The Ic-Cream (Heat Treatment, etc.) Regulations require all ice cream except
complete cold-mix powders, to be heat treated with a view to killing any pathogenic
organisms which may be present and lay down the temperatures at which mixtures are
to be kept before and after heat treatment - these temperatures are such as to discourage
bacterial growth.
The Regulations also require that ice-cream shall be protected from dirt, dust
or other contamination. The enforcement of these Regulations calls for regular
and persistent supervision of premises plant and methods of manufacturing and handling.
During the year, 65 inspections of registered premises were carried out. The
following results were obtained from the bacteriological examination of samples:-
Satisfactory Doubtful Unsatisfactory
Ice-Cream 34 4 12
Water Ices or 'lollies' 11 - -
Milk Ices 3 - -
Rinse Water 1 1 -
The percentage of doubtful and unsatisfactory samples was 25.0 as compared
with 3.5 in 1959 and 17.1 in 1958.
All the unsatisfactory samples were associated with one producer and most were
obtained during the investigation of the plant and process. Later samples were satisfactory.
BAKEHOUSES. There are 18 bakehouses in the Borough and 57 visits of inspection
were made during the year
SLAUGHTERHOUSES. There is no public abattoir private slaughterhouse or
knacker s yard operating in the Borough.
During the year, in accordance with Section 3 of the Slaughterhouses Act, 1958.
and the Slaughterhouse (Reports) Direction 1959, the Borough Council submitted to the
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, a report on the present and possible future
requirements for slaughterhouse facilities in the Borough. The Report indicated that,
after exhaustive inquiry and consultations with interested parties the Borough Council
were satisfied that the provision of slaughterhouse facilities in the Borough is not
necessary. The Report was accepted unconditionally by the Minister.
SLAUGHTER OF ANIMALS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1954. No application for a licence,
under the provisions of the Act has been received.
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