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41
Supply of Milk to Schools.
Of the 81 schools in the district, 30 participate in
the "Milk in Schools" scheme. All the supplies are now
pasteurised and delivered to the schools by four
dairymen. During the year 35 samples were taken of
which 32 were satisfactory and three were not, giving a
percentage of 8.57 per cent. unsatisfactory. When this
is compared with the 50 per cent. unsatisfactory of the
previous year (only eight samples were taken, the scheme
being in its infancy) it will be seen that considerable
progress has been achieved. In each of the three cases
under review, B.Coli was present in 0.1 c.c., the bacteria
present ranged from 19,000 to 48,000.
Special Designations.
Regulations have been issued governing the designations
of milk, and it is expected that these will become
operative on the 1st June, 1936. The designations will
be reduced to three in number, namely:— "Tuberculin
Tested," which will replace "Certified" and "Grade A"
(T.T.); "Accredited" which is of a similar standard to
the present Grade "A"; and " Pasteurised."
The present method of determining the purity of
milk by plate counts is to be substituted by a colour
test in the case of "Tuberculin Tested" and
"Accredited " milks.
The question of standards of purity of milk has been
a subject for debate for some time. As under the Food
and Drugs Acts, the setting up of standards may conceivably
act to the detriment of the consumer, the less
conscientious producers may be inclined to approximate
to the standard whereas with a little extra care they
might produce an article of a purity far in excess of that
legally required.