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32
During the year 15 samples of milk were taken for bacteriological
examination. Of these 11 were of certified or pasteurised
milk, and 4 of ordinary milk. The results of the bacteriological
examination showed that all the samples complied with the requirements.
Eight samples were taken in course of delivery during the year
at the request of the Medical Officers of Health of neighbouring
boroughs under the provisions of Secs. 21 and 29 and the second
schedule of the Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act, 1928, which
permits the vendor to require (within 60 hours) the Council to
take samples from a corresponding delivery or milking. During
the year advantage was taken of these provisions by 5 milk purveyors
in regard to 10 samples of milk. All these samples having
been certified to be genuine no action was necessary on the requests.
Proceedings with regard to adulteration were taken in 13
instances—fat abstractions, 6; extraneous water, 7, particulars
relating to which will be found set out in the tables on page 75.
Imported Milk.
The attention of the Council was drawn to the importation
of milk in large quantities, much of which was being taken to
Battersea. In view of the fact that this imported milk had no
supervision other than that of the Port Sanitary Authority through
whose hands it passed, there being no subsequent control by local
Authorities in whose districts it arrives, the Council, on the report
of the Health Committee, made representations to the Government
Departments concerned on the subject, suggesting that the receptacles
containing imported milk should be required to be labelled
as in the case of other imported foodstuffs.
The Minister of Agriculture replied that he had no power to
initiate action in the matter, and the Council addressed a communication
to the Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee,
and the local Members of Parliament were asked to support the
action taken.
Condensed Milk.
During the year, 14 informal samples of condensed milk were
submitted to the Public Analyst, of which 9 were described as “full
cream" and 5 as “machine separated." All samples were found
to be genuine.