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274
1908]
that the milks had been reduced by the addition of separated milk. This is
hardly to be wondered at when it is recollected that the average percentage
amount of fat in the milk which arrives at Finsbury Park Railway Station
from farms is 3.91, which would admit of the addition of one twelfth part by
weight of separated milk to a churn of whole milk, and yet satisfy
the official minimum standard for fat, and there is no doubt that this is largely
done. In fact, during a recent trial a man well-known in the milk trade stated
that nearly all the milk dealers added separated milk, and he was not ashamed
of it, nor did he think it was any harm. To prevent frauds of this character
it seems to be necessary that the law should be so altered as to allow of a
prosecution if it could be shown that the milk sold by any vendor gave a
percentage of fat less than the average percentage of the milks which he had
received into his premises on the date on which the sample was taken, that
average being taken as the standard for his milk. It would be well, too, that
all separated milks should be conveyed in special churns distinguished by some
universal mark, such as a painted coloured band; and also that it should be
consigned in the name of the firm, and not, as is frequently done, in another
name. It has recently come to light that this is a common practice, which it
adopted with a view to prevent the Sanitary Inspector, who examines the
churns at the railway station, knowing that the real consignees are using such
milk. It should also be made a distinct offence to add separated milk to any
whole milk; and dealers in separated milk should be compelled to keep books,
which would be open to the Sanitary Authority, showing how it is dealt with.
These may seem very drastic proposals, but then it must be remembered that
milk is perhaps the most important of all foods. It certainly is for young
children, and, therefore its adulteration should be prevented by every possible
means. Honest dealers would have nothing to fear.