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106
The milk sellers of the City may be divided into two groups, viz., retailers, who,
at a shop, sell milk which may be taken away, or may be consumed on the premises,
and are termed "Purveyors of Milk,"and those who, in addition to thus selling milk,
have a milk round in connection with their business, and are designated "Dairymen."
Of the former there are 614, and of the latter 25.
Improvements were necessary in six instances at the premises of persons registered
as Purveyors of Milk. In three instances the premises required cleansing and
whitewashing, and uncovered milk vessels were found to be in use at three shops.
These matters were put right on the attention of the several owners being directed
thereto.
Improvements in ventilation, &c., have been carried out at the premises of persons
registered as Dairymen, whilst at several others, improved facilities for the washing
and storing of the cans used in the business have been effected.
In no instance has a case of infectious disease been reported as having occurred at
a registered milkshop or dairy during the year
A list of Registered Dairymen and Purveyors of Milk in the City is given in
Appendix D.
SALE OF FOOD AND DRUGS ACTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(MILK AND CREAM) REGULATIONS.
During the year, 909 articles of food were examined by the Public Analyst,
under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, 1875 to 1907, and the Public Health (Milk
and Cream) Regulations, 1912. This number includes 131 samples obtained and dealt
with without the formalities of the Act being observed, and 778 taken with the
procedure prescribed by the Act.
Of the informal samples 33 were found to be deficient, 17 being instances of
non.observance of the requirements of the Milk and Cream Regulations, and 16 of Milk,
Butter and Vinegar sophistication. As a consequence, subsequent formal samples were
obtained of the same vendors and proceedings taken in the usual way.
Of the samples purchased formally, 28 were found to be sophisticated, which
represents a percentage of 3.6.
It is satisfactory to note that the percentage of adulteration is slightly less than
last year, being 3.6 as against 4.6, which is more particularly gratifying when taking
into consideration the altered conditions of the last few months.
A comparison of the percentage of adulteration of samples taken ten years ago
and in the present year is of interest as showing the decrease that has taken place in
that period. The percentage in 1904 was 5.5, as against 3.6 in the present year.
A much lower percentage than this cannot be hoped for, as a generous allowance
must always be made for "accidental adulteration," i.e., fat abstracted from Milk by
careless employees, and the failure of the cow to maintain under abnormal conditions
the percentage of fat required to be present in this product.
A summary of the Quarterly Report of all Samples examined by the Public
Analyst including those taken in accordance with the Act and otherwise, and the
percentage of adulteration of each separate article, is given on pages 114 and 115.