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INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD
Milk.
During the year one purveyor of milk was added to the register. At
the end of the year there were 42 purveyors of milk on the register. This
number includes 14 who were registered with respect to premises occupied for
other purposes for them to retail milk in sealed receptacles only.
Under the Milk (Special Designations) Order, 1936, 35 licences were
granted during the year, 14 for the sale of Tuberculin Tested Milk, 1 for
accredited milk, 21 for the sale of Pasteurised Milk, and 2 for Pasteurisation.
Control.
Samples of milk, designated and undesignated, are examined for
bacterial count. These examinations are performed at the National Institute
for Research in Dairying, at Reading. Immediately after the samples are taken
they are sent by train to the Institute and they are nearly always examined
between four and six hours after being taken.
During the year 133 samples were taken in this way, and it was
considered that of these samples 19 were unsatisfactory. A rather more stringent
method of bacteriological examination is made than has been standardised by
the Ministry of Health, and therefore inquiries and advice are given to the
retailers rather than that proceedings should be taken against them in Court.
In case of grossly unsatisfactory results, however, this latter alternative would
be used.
During the year 34 samples were taken for the phosphatase test; 31
samples were officially pasteurised and were negative.
Milk Vessels.
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. 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
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