London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Barnet 1967
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barnet]
This page requires JavaScript
out to check that it had been properly pasteurised and the sampling programme arranged to cover all
brands being used in the Borough.
(i) Number of egg pasteurisation plants in the district Nil
(ii) Number of samples of liquid egg submitted to the Alpha-Amylase test
(a) Satisfactory 24
(b) Unsatisfactory Nil
Milk Licensing and Sampling
Milk (Special Designation) Regulations 1963 and the
Milk (Special Designation) (Amendment) Regulations 1965)
Licences were issued under the Milk (Special Designation) Regulations 1963 and the Milk
(Special Designation) (Amendment) Regulations 1965 to 167 distributors of milk authorising the use
of designations defined in these Regulations in relation to milk sold in the Borough. Fifty-three of
the licences related to "Untreated" milk, 148 to "Pasteurised" milk, 119 to "Sterilised" milk and
53 to "Ultra heat treated" milk.
"Ultra heat treated" milk is milk which has been subjected to a temperature of not less than
270°F for not less than one second. Milk thus treated has become known to the public as "Long
Life Milk". In its unopened container it has a "life" of several months but must be used as ordinary
milk once the carton is opened.
In addition to the samples examined for fat content the following samples were obtained for examination under the Regulations:—
| UNTREATED | PASTEURISED | STERILISED | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. of samples taken | 46 | 99 | 9 |
| Satisfactory | 27 | 83 | 9 |
| Failed | 11 | 2 | - |
| Test void | 8 | 14 | — |
The Regulations prescribe tests to be applied to milk sold under a specific designation. The
Methylene Blue Test for untreated and pasteurised milk is void if during the period of storage at
atmospheric shade temperature that temperature at any time exceeds 70°F.
Milk sold under the designation of "Untreated" milk must be bottled or cartoned at the place of
production and must be conspicuously and legibly labelled with the words "Untreated Milk". It is
a little surprising that there is still a demand for raw milk.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is responsible under the Milk and Dairies
(General) Regulations 1959 for the supervision, through its Divisional Milk Officers, of the actual
process of milk production at the farm whilst the Council is responsible for ensuring that milk
retailed is of a satisfactory quality both in respect of its chemical composition and bacteriological
standard.
38