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166
Milk Supply.
The milk supply of Battersea has been carefully
supervised during 1907, and the milk-shops in the
Borough have been systematically visited and inspected.
The necessity for exercising a vigilant supervision over this
article of food, bearing in mind its susceptibility to contaminating
influences and its importance as the staple diet of infants,
is apparent, and has been fully recognised by the Health
Department. It has been the practice, therefore, in Battersea
to devote a good deal of care and attention to premises where
milk is sold, with a view to ensuring, as far as it is practicable
to do under the existing law, precautions against contamination.
The number of registered milk-shops in Battersea at the
end of 1906 was 264. During 1907 55 new milk-shops were
added and 65 discontinued, the total number at the end of the
year being 254.
In only 76 of these premises was dairy produce alone sold.
Of the remaining premises wherein milk was sold, 157 were
general shops, 13 were confectioners, and in 8 instances the
milk was sold from a dwelling-house.
As showing, the number of hands through which the milk
passes before it reaches the consumer, of the 254 registered
milk vendors, 129 obtain their supply through milk contractors,
99 vendors are supplied from retail shops in the Borough, and
10 from retail shops outside the Borough. In only 16 instances
does the milk vendor obtain his supply direct from the farmer.
The quantity of milk sold per day by these 254 milk vendors
is as follows :—
106 (i.e., 41.7 per cent.) sell less than one gallon.
59 (i.e., 23.2 percent.) sell from one to ten gallons.
89 (i.e., 35.1 percent.) sell over ten gallons.
A register in the form of a card index system, is kept of all
dairies and milk-shops in the Borough, containing particulars
as to sanitary conditions, &c.