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89
Inspection and Supervision of Food.
(A) Milk Supply.
Examination of Samples for bacterial content and for tubercle bacilli.
In the early part of the year, the Council received a communication
from the Ministry of Health in which it was stated that the
Minister had had under consideration the report of his Officers after
the survey of the public health services of the Borough. With regard
to the supervision of food supplies, the Ministry suggested that the
number of samples of graded and of ordinary milk submitted for
bacteriological examination, and to examination for the presence of
tubercle bacilli, should be increased.
I accordingly arranged for 10 samples of graded, and raw milk,
to be submitted for examination for the presence of Tubercle Bacilli,
and for 20 samples of these types of milk and one of sterilised milk to
be examined for Bacterial Count—a total of 31 samples. All these
samples were found to be satisfactory and it would appear, therefore,
that the quality of milk retailed in Hampstead is of a satisfactory
standard.
Nevertheless, it must be borne in mind, that all milks sold as
pasteurised may not have been subjected to sufficient pasteurisation,
and consequently an occasional test for tubercle bacilli is desirable.
Further, milk, whether pasteurised or not, may be kept for an undue
length of time or under unsuitable conditions before it is retailed, and
as a consequence bacteriological examination is necessary to ascertain
whether or not the milk complies with the bacteriological standards
laid down in the Milk (Special Designations) Order, 1923.
In view, however, of the bacteriological results obtained, the
Public Health Committee agreed that, for the future, it would suffice
if about 20 samples per annum were taken, from sources where the
arrangements for storage and sale were suspected to be not entirely
satisfactory, and in addition that some 10 samples be taken during the
course of the year for the presence of tubercle bacilli.
Milk for School Children.
During the year arrangements were made by the London County
Council, designed to operate as from 1st October, whereby children