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88
Environmental Health
Brucella ring test and if this is positive, individual cow samples are taken to identify the animal concerned.
As a result of these tests, three cows were found to be producing milk containing Brucella
abortus. All the milk concerned was being supplied for heat treatment, with the exception of milk
consumed by the farmer and his family. The information obtained was submitted to the farmers, and
in all cases, the affected cows were eventually removed from the herds.
There were 81 samples tested for antibiotics and all were found to be satisfactory. Two samples of
goat's milk were also submitted for bacteriological examination and were found to be satisfactory.
Two samples examined to determine the presence of Tubercle bacilli were negative.

Following a complaint, rinses were taken from five empty churns supplied to a farmer by a wholesale
dairy, and two were found to be most unsatisfactory. The results obtained were made known to the
dairy concerned and to the Health Department of the district in which the dairy was situated. As a
result, churn washing arrangements were improved at these wholesale dairy premises.
Milk in Catering Establishments
The supply of milk through catering sales was the subject of bacteriological investigation during
the year. It was noted that milk was in some cases, being handled in a very careless manner. Delivery
to canteens and restaurants by way of small churns is common practice, and instances were noted of
staff dipping jugs and other receptacles into the milk with consequent danger of contamination. In
other cases, milk was drawn from refrigerated units and doubts were raised as to whether staff were
carrying out correct cleansing routines on this equipment.
There were 10 samples of milk submitted for bacteriological examination, two being control
samples taken from newly delivered five-gallon churns, three from jugs used by canteen staff and five
from refrigerated dispensers. E. coli was found in the three samples dispensed by means of jugs and
in two of the samples obtained from a refrigerated dispenser. The correct handling and dispensing of
milk and the hygiene of associated equipment was discussed fully with the managements concerned.
Processing
The two pasteurisation plants continue to operate. One is a small dairy, while the other is very
large and employs full-time laboratory staff. In addition to the supervision of general hygiene, checks
are made to ensure that the pasteurisation process is being carried out correctly and that the bottles
and churns are being washed efficiently. Washed bottles and churn rinses are sent for laboratory
examination; temperature records are checked and the methylene blue and phosphatase tests are
carried out. There were 30 washed bottles submitted for laboratory examination. Only one bottle was
classed as unsatisfactory. Rinses were taken from four churns and found to be satisfactory.