§ 43. Mr. John Osbornasked the Minister of Health how many separate tests have been carried out in the past three months on freezing balls or pink elephants, used as an alternative to domestic ice for cooling drinks, which have been imported from Hong Kong; what is the number of samples tested; in which laboratories the tests were carried out; on what occasions, pathogenic organisms have been detected; what have been the maximum and average number of bacteria present reported as a result of these tests; how these results compare with standards considered suitable for drinking purposes; and if he is satisfied that the water in these samples is fit for human consumption.
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§ Mr. LoughlinTests made in this country indicate that the water in many of these objects does not comply with normal standards for drinking water, though no organisms likely to cause human illness have been identified.
I have received information concerning 346 separate tests on 646 of the coolers not all of which were imported from Hong Kong; the liquid from some was pooled for the purpose of testing. Tests were made in laboratories in London, Bournemouth, Bristol, Coventry and Southampton. The maximum number of organisms in a sample was approximately 1,000,000 per ml. and many counts over 30,000 per ml. were found. It is not possible to give an average count. The presence or absence of coliform organisms or of E. coli type 1 are the criteria for the quality of drinking water. In many tests no coliform organisms were present, but the highest number was over 180 per 100 ml. E. coli type 1 has been found on three occasions.