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efficiency of pasteurisation. In addition, a Turbidity test is also
prescribed for ascertaining the effectiveness of the heat treatment
of Sterilised milk.
During the year 42 samples of milk consisting of 31 Pasteurised
milks, 4 Sterilised, 7 T.T. Pasteurised were examined in accordance
with the prescribed tests and, with the exception of one sample
declared to be void due to a high laboratory temperature, all proved
to be satisfactory.
Analytical Examination of Milk.—All designated milks being
sold in the Borough were sampled, including those of the super-fatted
variety, viz. Channel Island, Jersey, South Devon, etc., and 3 (all
informal) of the 6 formal and 36 informal samples submitted to
chemical analysis proved non-genuine. Although in the case of
two non-genuine reports the presence of up to 1 % water was indicated,
the deficiency of milk solids was considered insufficient to
justify action other than a warning letter to the Distributor. In
the case of the third non-genuine sample, the report indicated
abstraction of 56% of the milk fat. It subsequently transpired that
this sample had been obtained from a part-used churn at a hospital
store and the result was due to the milk not being plunged before
use by the hospital staff. The Superintendent of the hospital was
notified accordingly.
Seven samples of cream and one each of Canned Imitation
Cream and Powdered Imitation Cream were sampled and found to
be genuine.
Subsequent to a complaint in Birmingham that a tin of Cream
had a bitter taste, Salmonella typhimurium was recovered from a
sample tin of this cream.
Resulting from this discovery, a national warning against
consumption of this commodity was promulgated by means of Press
and radio. Further, a circular letter from the Ministry of Health
was received on the subject stating, inter alia, that " Medical
Officers of Health will wish to seek the co-operation of the local
trade organisations so that tins of this brand of cream do not pass
into consumption."
Four tins of this cream were subsequently obtained and submitted
for examination : one was submitted by a member of the
public and the others were obtained from vendors in the Borough
who had reported that they held stocks of the cream. In no case
was Salmonella typhimurium discovered and the Ministry of Health
were notified accordingly.