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28
Inspection of Premises where Milk is Retailed.—During the year, 356 inspections were
made in connection with the supervision of the sale of milk. Defects of a minor character
were observed in several instances and action taken to ensure that the requirements relating
to the sale of milk were complied with.
The Milk and Dairies Order, 1926, became operative on 1st October, 1926, and this
Order revoked the Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops Orders, 1885, 1886 and 1899, so far
as they relate to England and Wales, and any regulations made thereunder by a Local
Authority. This Order has consolidated and added to the requirements regulating the
milk trade. A copy of the Order was sent to each person on the register.
EXAMINATION OF MILK.
Chemical.—Thirteen samples, all of which were procured formally, were found to be
adulterated, giving a percentage of milk adulteration of 4.4 compared with 3.0 for 1925.
There were five prosecutions and penalties were imposed in three instances. In the
seven cases in which proceedings were not deemed advisable, the vendors or consignors were
cautioned.
The following table shows the percentage of fat contained in each of the 295 samples
of milk examined. Twelveout of thisnumber contained fat in amounts below the point which
presumes adulteration, i.e., 3 per cent. The highest amount of fat contained in any sample
was 7.2 per cent.:—
Percentage
of Fat.
No. of
Samples.
Percentage
of Fat.
No. of
Samples.
2.5 1 3.9 16
2.6 2 4.0 12
2.7 2 4.1 7
2.8 4 4.2 2
2.9 3 4.3 2
3.0 4 4.4 3
3.1 7 4.5 1
3.2 11 4.6 3
3.3 23 4.9 3
3.4 40 5.1 2
3.5 50 5.5 1
3.6 33 5.7 1
3.7 31 6.5 1
3.8 29 7.2 1
Total 295
In the 18 cases where the percentage of fat exceeded 4.2 special enquiries were made
as usual. Ten of these samples were taken from milk vessels in shops, and probably the
retailers' neglect to properly plunge the milk accounted for the excessive fat content. Eight
other samples were taken from churns in course of delivery at Railway Stations, and two
of these were from Jersey cows.
By the Milk and Dairies (Consolidation) Act, 1915, where a sample of milk has been
taken from a purveyor, such purveyor may serve a notice within sixty hours upon the Local
Authority stating the name and address of the seller from whom he received the milk and
the time and place of delivery to the purveyor by the seller or consignor of milk from a
corresponding milking, requesting the Local Authority to take steps to procure a sample
in course of transit from the seller or consignor. Thirty-five such requests were received
during the year.
Milk sampling has been carried out at irregular hours, and none of those taken on Sunday
mornings proved to be below standard.
BACTERIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF MILK SAMPLES COLLECTED AT
RAILWAY STATIONS.
During the month of September, 42 samples of milk were collected on arrival at Liverpool Street Station and submitted to Sir Frederick Andrewes, K.B.E., City Bacteriologist,
for bacteriological examination and investigation as to the presence of "dirt." A duplicate
of each sample was collected, and this was submitted to Mr. E. A. Pinchin, B.Sc., Public
Analyst, for chemical examination.