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49
MILK.
On June 1st, 1936, the new Milk (Special Designations) Order
1936 came into operation, which revoked the Special Designations
Orders of 1923 and 1934. Under the old orders there were 4
grades of milk, Certified, Grade A Tuberculin Tested, Grade A and
Pasteurised. The highest standard of purity was prescribed for the
Certified and Grade A Tuberculin Tested, but a very large number
of people were under the impression that Grade A milk was the highest
and safest kind on the market. For the Grade A milk the cows
had to be clinically examined by a Veterinary Surgeon and must not
have contained more than 200,000 organisms per c.c. but the
cows were not tuberculin tested. In addition to this misconception
confusion had recently been introduced by the inauguration in 1935
of the Accredited and Attested Scheme of the Milk Marketing Board.
The new order will clarify matters as far as classification is concerned,
and prescribes the following special designations :—
1. Tuberculin Tested—The condition for this grade are substantially
the same as those formerly prescribed for Grade A Tuberculin
Tested milk. It is milk from cows which have passed a veterinary
examination and a tuberculin test, and it may be bottled on
the farm or elsewhere. Until December 31st, 1936, the raw milk
should not contain at any time before delivery to the consumer more
than 200,000 bacteria per millilitre ; after that date it must satisfy
a prescribed methylene blue reduction test for cleanliness. At all
dates it must contain no coliform bacillus in one-hundredth of a
millilitre. If pasteurised, it must be described as " Tuberculin
Tested (Pasteurised) " and must not contain more than 30,000 bac-.
tcria per millilitre. If bottled on the farm the word " Certified ''
may be added to its description.
2. Accredited—The conditions for this grade are similar to
ttose prescribed for Grade A milk. It is raw milk from cows which
have passed a veterinary examination, but which have not been subjected
to a tuberculin test. The milk must satisfy the same bacteriological
tests as are prescribed for raw Tuberculin Tested milk,
wJ'may be bottled on the farm or elsewhere.
3. Pasteurised—This designation is applicable both where
* Accredited " and where ungraded milk is pasteurised in accord-
once with the requirements of the Order. The conditions are substantially
the same as in the Order of 1923, except that further conations
are imposed with regard to thermometers and temperature
Charts.