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84
Milk
Milk consists of approximately 87% of water holding proteins,
sugar and certain salts in solution and having suspended in it finely
divided globules of fat to which the milk owes its whiteness. Milk,
as drawn aseptically from a healthy cow, contains few bacteria
but as it forms an excellent medium for the growth of organisms
every precaution should be taken to prevent its contamination.
It is, therefore, to be expected that this commodity formed the
largest class of food sampled during the year.
Milk Supply.—The supply of milk continues to be under the
direction of the Milk Marketing Board, who, in this connection, act
as agents to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The
greater proportion of the milk which enters the Borough originates
from the Home Counties and the remainder which is of a higher fat
content, arrives from Devon and the Channel Islands.
Milk and Dairies Regulations, 1949/54.—Under the provisions
of the principal Regulations each person retailing milk in the
Borough must be registered as a Distributor. The number of
Distributors registered at the end of the year was 110 which total
includes 6 dairy premises.
On 72 occasions the premises of distributors and dairies were
visited other than for sampling purposes, and defects, when detected
were remedied as and when necessary.
The Milk (Special Designation) (Pasteurised and Sterilised
Milk) Regulations, 1949/53 and The Milk (Special Designation)
(Raw Milk) Regulations, 1949/54.—All milk now sold in the Borough
has been Sterilised, Pasteurised or Tuberculin Tested and the use
of these Special Designations in relation to the sale of milk is prohibited
under the above Regulations unless the distributor is licensed
for the use of same.
Licences issued in accordance with the above Regulations are
operative for one year from 1st January and are required to be
renewed annually. Principal Licences are granted to Distributors
in respect of premises within the Borough and Supplementary
Licences to Distributors who sell within the Borough but whose
premises are outside. The following licences had been granted and
were in force on the 31st December, 1957 :—