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50
Bacteriological Examination of Milk for Maternity and
Child Welfare Grants.
During 1937 it was decided by the Council that all milk supplied
to Finsbury mothers and children under orders issued by the
Finsbury Borough Council should be designated "Pasteurised."
This should ensure the supply of the safest milk possible. In
addition to the control which is exercised over all such supplies,
special attention is directed to ensure that the required standards
for this particular supply are maintained and 20 samples were
taken during the year for bacteriological examination.
Standards.—(1) Bacterial Count.
The legal maximum count allowable is 100,000 bacteria per
millilitre. The count, however, only gives an approximate index
of the bacterial purity and does not give any indication of the
harmfulness or otherwise of the organisms.
Lower counts than the legal maximum should generally prevail
although at times, especially in summer, higher counts may be
found without any gross contamination having taken place.
Of the samples examined—
10 showed counts of below 30,000 bacteria per m.l.
6 showed counts above 30,000 but below 100,000 per m.l.
*4 showed counts above 100,000 but below 500,000 per m.l.
None showed counts above 500,000.
* Three of these were samples of undesignated milk supplied
before the decision of the Council referred to above became
operative.
(2) Presence of Bacillus Coli.
There is no legal standard with regard to the presence of
Bacillus coli in Pasteurised milk, but it is generally considered that
it should not be demonstrable in 1/10 m.l. and that faulty pasteurisation
or subsequent contamination has taken place when it is
demonstrable in 1/100 m.l. or less.