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of the Public Health Department, a special feature being made of inspections over
each week-end. Stalls from which meat is retailed though they must comply with
certain requirements laid down in the Public Health (Meat) Regulations, 1925, are
not registered.
FOOD.
A.—Milk Supply.
Analysis of milk.—It has always been one of the chief aims of the Council to
ensure that the quality of the milk supplied in the Borough shall be maintained,
and during the year much of the time of the department and the food inspector
was devoted to this matter. The total number of samples taken either formally
and in accordance with the provisions of the Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act,
1928, or informally as "test" samples was 266. On examination by the Public
Analyst 3 (1.1 per cent.) were found to be adulterated. In 1929 the percentage
was 1.4, in 1928 and 1927 .62 and 2.9, respectively. Further reference to the
question of milk examinations is made in the report of the Public Analyst which
will be found elsewhere.
Within recent years methods of distribution have very greatly improved.
Very much more milk than formerly is delivered in bottle, the quantity sold loose
—from churns, etc.—being, it would seem, iess and, on the whole, definitely
cleaner. To judge from the number of firms licensed to deal in various grades
of graded milk, and the sampling done on behalf of the Ministry of Health,
considerable quantities also must be sold in the Borough. Of the non-graded
variety it is probable that the greater part is pasteurised, a circumstance which
may be regarded as definitely in the interest of the consumer.
As in former years, as soon as the analyst's report was obtained, vendors
whose samples were found to be up to standard were informed that it would be
unnecessary for them to retain the portion of milk left with them. When the
samples were found to be slightly below the standard, a special report was made
to the Public Health Committee.
Of the sampling done, a certain amount was carried out on Saturday nights
and Sunday mornings, but the practice of forwarding milk by rail to Marylebone
Station having ceased in favour of road transport or delivery to King's Cross
Station, railway sampling in course of delivery is not now possible.
*Dismissed, under First Offenders Act.
Bacteriological Examination of Milk.—With a view to testing the purity of
milk from the bacteriological point of view, 9 samples were taken and submitted
to Dr. Foulerton, the Council's Bacteriologist, for examination.