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136
Latest reports indicate that the annual production of graded milks
is increasing, and that the market for them is steadily widening as their
virtue becomes apparent.
Further milk regulations which deserve mention are the Condensed
Milk Regulations 1923-27, and the Dried Milk Regulations, 1923-27.
These deal with the composition of tinned milks, and an important
proviso is that which makes necessary the use of the words "Unfit for
Babies" upon tins of skimmed or separated milk.
Reference to these few orders, acts and regulations concerning milk
give an idea of the trend of food legislation. Primarily it is necessary
to define a standard of quality; then efforts are made to improve quality
above the legal minimum and also to produce the milk in a cleanly
fashion. The question of the use of preservatives in milk will be dealt
with later.
Considering, next, legislation dealing with the inspection of meat,
this again is principally devoted to preventing the sale of meat from
diseased animals and with the maintenance of a high sanitary standard
in slaughterhouses. Recent legislation has concerned itself with the
methods of distribution and sale of this commodity.
Early legislation dealing with the inspection of meat, etc., was far
from satisfactory, and in 1921 a Departmental Committee was appointed
to go thoroughly into the matter with a view to securing greater uniformity
in methods of meat inspection in various parts of the country.
A memorandum, Number 62, was issued in 1922, giving detailed
instructions to meat inspectors.
The position was far from satisfactory, however; in 1923, for
instance it was found that at Smithfield Market, although the amount
of home-killed meat was only one-fifth of imported meat, yet twice as
much diseased home-killed meat was detected as imported diseased
meat. Of home-killed meat 171,884 pounds out of 76,841 tons were
diseased; of imported meat only 94,511 pounds out of 362,151 tons
were diseased.
Attempts were made to improve this deplorable situation; and in
1925 there came into force the Public Health (Meat) Regulations, 1924.
These contained provisions in regard to the slaughtering and marking
of meat; and three sections were devoted to the question of contamination
by dirt during transit and sale. As you are aware several