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On the whole a bacterial count is a very good indication of general
cleanliness and this appears to be improving.
During the year 222 samples were taken in this way and it was considered
that of these samples 45 were unsatisfactory.
Some purveyors of milk appear to have no difficulty in keeping their
milk up to a high standard of cleanliness, while others do not succeed so,
easily. It is of course to these latter that more attention is paid by this Department.
Considerable attention continues to be given to improving the methods
of cleansing and sterilising milk bottles and utensils. Under Article 21 of
the Milk and Dairies Order the use of steam or boiling water for scalding all
milk vessels is required. Boiling water means water at the temperature at
which it boils and does not mean, as is often mistakenly thought, water from
which watery vapour (sometimes erroneously called steam) arises. The
cleansing of bottles in which milk is delivered is a matter which often receives
insufficient attention. Milk bottles are included under Article 21 of the Order
and therefore should be cleansed by means of steam or boiling water in the
same way.
Exposure of milk bottles and utensils to steam is necesssary for the
protection of the public. It is also an advantage commercially as when the
bottles and milk receptacles are sterilised the milk keeps better and the dairyman
therefore gains thereby.
During the year, special attention was paid to the question of the installation
of steam raising boilers and the provision of proper sterilising cabinets
for bottles. At the end of the year all premises where bottles are cleansed
and filled were equipped with steam raising boilers and sterilising cabinets
in this way.
Meat and Other Foods.
There were two infringements of the Public Health (Meat) Regulations,
part VI.
In these cases the meat carriers' carmen were not taking all reasonable
precautions to prevent the contamination of the meat.
A warning letter was sent to each firm concerned and no further contra
vention was noted.
No meat is sold from stalls in the district.
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