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The general effect of the Milk (Special Designations)
Order is to ensure that certain special varieties of milk which
are sold at high prices are of a good standard of purity.
Milk being such an important article of diet for infants
and invalids, it is of the greatest importance that all milk
should be of the highest quality and purity obtainable.
A bacteriologically clean milk supply, apart from its
benefit to the consumer, would also be advantageous to the
vendor by reason of its improved keeping qualities.
The milk question received considerable attention at the
meeting of the Royal Sanitary Institute at Hull in July,
1923, and again at a meeting of the Institute in December
last, and it is sincerely to be hoped that the interest that
has been aroused in the matter will continue until a really
pure milk supply is ensured for the public.
The legal powers of the local authority for dealing with
the unsatisfactory conditions under which milk is sometimes
kept in retail shops (more particularly "general" shops)
were not really adequate, but the powers given to the local
authority under the Milk and Dairies (Amendment) Act,
1922, in the matter of refusing or cancelling registration
where conditions are not satisfactory, represent a distinct
advance.
These additional powers must be used with discretion but
firmness, and should be the means of securing improved
conditions.
It would undoubtedly be a great improvement if all
milk could be supplied by the dairymen in bottles—both
that delivered directly to the consumer and that supplied
to the small shops. This would largely overcome the
possibilities of contamination, both in the shop and in the
home of the consumer. A difficulty arises, more particularly
in the case of the "general" shop, and especially in cases
where these shops supply employees in factories—these
mostly buy in very small quantities. Nevertheless, if the
bottle were the smallest quantity purchasable, these people
would probably soon arrange to share a bottle between them.
In connection with the retail sale of milk, a report was
presented to the Public Health Committee in November last.
This report dealt more particularly with the sale of milk
in "general" shops in the Borough.
Certain conditions to be observed by the shopkeepers
were suggested:-
1. The milk container to be kept covered (to exclude flies and dust) when not
serving.
2. The milk container and its cover, and the measures, to be scalded daily
before use.