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51
We were too much occupied with the standard of its fat
content, and too little occupied with its cleanliness. Lately, great
advances have been seen in this country, largely due to the activities
of the Dairying Research Institute at Reading, and in and around
London to the activities of the United Dairies and their associated
companies, who are endeavouring to supply a clean trustworthy
milk.
The bulk of the milk other than that supplied by the two firms
who are licenced to supply " Pasteurised " milk is supplied from the
large wholesale firms and is properly pasteurised before it reaches
the dealers. Some of the milk supplied in the district however
does not come up to this requirement.
Pasteurising is carried out in 3 ways, (1) Flash Pasteurising,
which means rapidly heating for a short time to a temperature of
about 170 degrees is the cheapest and easiest, but at the same time
unsatisfactory in that it spoils the milk in two ways, depriving it of
certain of its vital qualities, and spoiling the combination of fat in
the milk as instanced by the interference with the cream line.
The other two forms are what are known as the Holder process,
the more recent and satisfactory being known as the positive
Holder process, which ensures that all milk is held for half an hour
at a temperature of 145 to 150 degrees. This not only ensures as
far as possible a safe milk, but a milk which retains practically all
its vital qualities, and in which the combination of cream with the
other constituents is not interfered with. The positive Holder process
is the only satisfactory process to allow where a Licence for
Pasteurised milk is given. Sterilised milk is also sold in the
district, but this still further deprives the milk of certain of its
vital qualities. There are a few firms still supplying what is
advertised as a rule as "Fresh Cows Milk," but I cannot say that
some of it is such that it should be used in its ordinary condition
as children's food.
I he following analyses is an instance of what I mean. The
samples being 3 taken from one firm within a period of six months.