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INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD.
Milk Supply.
The bulk of the milk supply for the inhabitants of Camberwell
well comes from farms outside London. There is in the Borough
only one licensed cowshed. This cowshed was regularly inspected
and steps were taken to prevent any contamination of the milk.
A sample of this milk was taken for bacteriological analysis and
was reported to be free from tubercle bacilli.
Milk supervision has two purposes. The first is to protect
the consumer against adulteration or a low-grade product. The
second is to secure a milk as clean as possible.
The modern practice of collecting milk from many farmers
and taking it to large creameries and milk depots, where it is
mixed, prevents the possibility of tracing either dirty or infected
milk to the source of production.
Pure milk may be defined as milk which contains at least
3 per cent, of fat and 8.5 per cent, of non-fatty solids, has no
added preservatives, and which is clean.
The definition of clean milk is based on the bacterial count,
and is related especially to the presence and number of the coliform
bacilli and the absence of tubercle bacillus.
The necessity for a fixed bacterial standard for milk.—It is
sad to relate that we are still battling against dirty milk, and
although progress has been made in the fight yet the question of
transit in properly cooled vehicles, whether by rail or road, and a
bacteriological standard for milk of any description still remain to
prevent our victory. Unclean milk is a menace to the health of
the community, and especially to that of its youngest members.
The indifference displayed by the ordinary householder as to the
purity of his milk supply is beyond all comprehension.
A bacteriological standard of purity for all milk is required,
and when the public realise the value of milk with a small
bacteriological count then we may hope to see an Order enforcing
this admirable state of affairs.
The distribution of a large quantity of the milk used in Camberwell
is carried out by large firms, but there are still a considerable
able number of small dealers on the register. It is estimated that
about 60 per cent, of the milk is supplied and distributed by one of
the large wholesale firms.
During the last five years there has been a great improvement
in the purity and wholesome character of the supply, partly
due to the large firms that handle the milk. Although there may
be objections as to the large combines having the control of the
supply of milk owing to the limitation of competition, nevertheless