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95
The average composition of the milk supply remains much the same, and
there is room for improvement in the quality.
Samples of milk which are slightly below the legal standard of composition
are reported as " Genuine, poor quality, slightly deficient in solids-not-fat."
During the year 17 samples having a percentage of solids-not-fat varying
between 8.25 per cent, and 8.40 per cent. have been classified as "Poor
Quality."
Poor
Quality
Milk
Samples
In all cases where a determination of the freezing point could be made
the samples were found to be adulterated.
In every case a letter has been sent by the Medical Officer of Health to
the vendor asking for an explanation of the deficiency of solids-not-fat.
The presumptive standard requires a minimum of 8.5 per cent. of solidsnot-fat.
A sample of milk below this standard is not necessarily adulterated
and milk above the standard is not necessarily genuine.
At the completion of this year it is intended to return all samples of milk
as adulterated whether containing slightly less than or more than the standard
of 8.5 per cent. solids-not-fat where the determination of the freezing point
has shown that the sample definitely contains added water. This will have the
effect of increasing the percentage of adulteration and diminishing the number
of poor quality samples.
As has been explained earlier, the freezing point determination may not
always detect added water, even when there is a deficiency of solids-not-fat,
caused bv added water.
39 samples of milk were taken on delivery for chemical examination from
six institutions in the Borough. One sample, D 2, was 4.7 per cent. deficient
in fat and the contractor was cautioned. The average composition of the
milk was : Fat, 3.77 per cent., and solids-not-fat, 8.80 per cent. This is good
quality milk and considerably better than the average Stepney supply.
Hospital,
etc..
Samples.
Of the above, two samples, B 54 and B 55, satisfied the requirements of
the Sale of Milk Regulations but failed to comply with the conditions of the
L.C.C. contract, which states that the milk must contain 3.25 per cent. of
milk fat, except in the month of March, when this figure is lowered to 3.0 per
cent. According to these conditions the samples B 54 and B 55 were both
4.6 per cent. deficient in fat.