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132
In the Annual Reports of the past five years reference has been made
to the conditions, brucella abortus, which during 1966 was found to be
present in two local herds. Both herds are still the subject to control under
Section 20 of the Milk and Dairies (General) Regulations, 1959 and the
milk from these herds is collected and processed by heat treatment under
arrangements controlled by the Milk Marketing Board. It is envisaged that
when the proposed brucellosis eradication scheme is fully operational the
associated problems with these two herds will be finally resolved.
Forty-eight samples were taken from local herds during the year, of
which seven were found to be positive in the respect of the Milk Ring Test
which is used to detect brucella in raw milk.
Milk Bottles
Periodic inspections and bacteriological tests were carried out on
bottle washing plants at the two dairy bottling establishments within the
Borough and, during the year forty-eight bottles were submitted for
bacteriological examination. All were reported as being nearly sterile,
which is an indication of the very high standards achieved at these two
plants.
The misuse of milk bottles by the general public continued to be a
cause for concern. This matter has been commented on in previous years
and it is felt the "bottle problem" will only be resolved when the present
glass bottle is replaced by a non-returnable milk container.
The undesirable practice of some roundsmen of stacking crates of
empty milk bottles adjacent to highways and public footways was also the
subject of many representations to managers of milk distribution centres.
The position is improving but the 100% co-operation necessary from all
concerned has not yet been achieved.
Complaints
During the year twenty-two complaints about milk or milk bottles
were received and investigated. This is four fewer than during 1969.
Thirteen of these complaints concerned the presence of foreign matter in
milk, six being in respect of dirty bottles and the remainder in regard to
the quality of the milk.
ICE CREAM
There are 433 premises registered for the manufacture, storage or
sale of ice cream. Routine sampling of ice cream from manufacturers and
from retailers was undertaken during the year.
The results were as follows:-