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87
containing milk. The customers were invariably served from the
churn on the barrow. On asking to be supplied with a pint of
milk the Inspector was served from the hand-can. He insisted
on being supplied as well from the churn. The milk from the
former was reported to be genuine, while that supplied from the
churn containing the bulk of the supply was found to be adulterated
to the serious extent stated. The defendant was convicted and
fined.
Separated Milk.
A letter was received from the Board of Agriculture and
Fisheries dated the 20th August, 1912, enclosing copy of the Sale
of Milk Regulations, 1912, in which they state that "these regulations
amend the Sale of Milk Regulations, 1901, so far as they
relate to skimmed or separated milk, and replace the limit of 9 per
cent. of total milk solids on which, under article 3 of these regulations
a presumption is based that the milk is not genuine, by a
limit of 8.7 per cent. of milk solids other than milk fat. Representations
have been received from time to time from local authorities
of districts where there is a trade in skimmed and separated
milk that considerable practical difficulties arise in instituting proceedings
in cases in which water has been added to skimmed
milk, but owing to the fact that the milk has been imperfectly
skimmed, the total solids have not fallen below 9 per cent. Thus
a sample containing 1.5 per cent. of fat and 7.5 per cent. of milk
solids other than milk fat would probably contain over 12 per
cent. of added water, but the total solids are up to the limit of
9 per cent. The present regulations are intended to obviate these
difficulties, and to facilitate the prevention of the adulteration of
skimmed milk with water."
It will be remembered that representations have been made
from time to time by the Council as to the difficulties met with
in administering the Acts in their district in relation to skimmed
milk owing to the existence of this regulation which has now been
amended. There is a considerable trade done in the poorer
districts of the Borough in skimmed and separated milk. It is
satisfactory to find that the regulations in question have been
amended in the direction indicated.
Milk and Cream Regulations.
The Public Health (Milk and Cream) Regulations which are
now in force deal with the question of preservatives in milk and
cream. Copies of the regulations have been forwarded to local
authorities with a covering letter from the Local Government
Board dated 6th August, 1912.