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The problem of the misuse of milk bottles by the public remains
largely unsolved. Used bottles containing soil, cement, paint, oil and
other substances causing contamination are frequently returned to the
dairies. Milk bottles are abused in this manner because they happen to
be convenient and free. The dairies, however, are not altogether free
from blame; for empty bottles are seen stacked in the street awaiting
collection by the roundsman on his return journey and may so be contaminated
by dirt, insects or dogs.
The leaving in bottles of milk residue which sours and decomposes
causes contamination which is difficult to remove. This may necessitate
separate treatment involving prolonged soaking and an increase in the
strength of the chemical solutiors used. Even then in spite of special
treatment at the bottling depot even the most efficiently operated plant
will be sorely tried to deal with many of them. It would be of great
berefit if all housewives made a habit of rinsing thoroughly all milk
bottles before returning them to the dairy.
THE FOOD AND DRUGS AMENDMENT ACT, 1954
This Act received Royal Assent on the 25th November, 1954, but
apart from section 28 (which deals with private slaughterhouses), will
not come into operation until a date to be appointed by the Minister.
This will be after the consolidation of this Act with the Food and Drugs
Act, 1938, the Food and Drugs (Milk, Dairies and Artificial Cream)
Act, 1950 and the Slaughterhouses Act, 1954. It is proposed to bring
the consolidating measure and the new Food Hygiene Regulations into
force simultaneously.
The main objects of the Act are the protection of the public against
the sale of food containing injurious substances, misdirection in labels
and advertisements, and the provision of further powers to secure that
food is not contaminated in the course of preparation, distribution and
sale. The new powers concerning the latter are contained in sections
6 to 10 and provide for the making of Regulations and codes of practice
as to food hygiene, the registration of certain food premises and the
licensing of vehicles, stalls and other places where food is sold.
The new Regulations will replace the general requirements of section
13 of the 1938 Act and are intended to secure "the observance of sanitary
and cleanly conditions and practices in connection with the sale of food
for human consumption or the importation, preparation, transport,
storage, packaging, wrapping, exposure for sale, service or delivery of
food intended for sale for human consumption, or otherwise for the
protection of the public health".
Many of the provisions embodied in the Act are based on the recommendations
of the Working Parties set up for the Catering trade and
the Manufactured Meat Products Industry, and the Interdepartmental
Committee on Meat Inspection.
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