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It is admitted that considerable improvements will have to be
carried out at some of these premises before the desired standard is
reached, but the work is steadily progressing.
ICE CREAM PREMISES.
Ice Cream is a food of considerable value during the warmer
months of the year, particularly amongst children.
The supervision of this commodity during manufacture and sale
is therefore of the highest importance, as it is essential for the public
welfare that it should be pure and wholesome.
It is regrettable that there is no defined chemical or bacterial
content, as is the case in the higher grades of milk, therefore the
quality of the mixture sold as ice cream varies considerably, in some
cases being little more than frozen water.
Cleanliness of person, premises and utensils is of the utmost importance,
and it will be readily understood that much time of an
inspector is involved in dealing with the large number of small and
often undesirable dealers of this commodity.
The London County Council General Powers Act, 1932, has been
of considerable value, as it allows for removal from the Register of
those premises which are unsuitable.
In the early part of this year when the work of the inspectoral
staff was re-arranged, Mr. Syms was given as part of his duties the
task of supervising ice cream premises and barrows. He reports as
follows:—
The records show that there are—
2 Wholesale Factories.
98 Ice Cream Makers.
59 Shops where Ice Cream is sold.
50 Itinerant Vendors.
Of the 98 makers, 28 are using modern freezing plants, and 70
still use the salt and ice freezing mixture in tubs.
Improvements have been effected in 24 premises during the year,
and one Italian maker has entirely rebuilt his premises, which were
previously unsatisfactory.
Efforts have been made to improve the conditions under which
ice cream has been retailed in the streets.
The dangers of the exposure to dust and dirt of the cream and the
biscuit cups or containers has been stressed at every opportunity; the
practice of making a large display of biscuit cones has been deprecated,
but there is considerable opposition among the Italian traders.
I am of the opinion that suitable cautionary letters should be
served during the coming season where this practice is common, and
prosecutions instituted for unnecessary exposure in those cases
where this is persisted in.