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It is interesting to note that the average fat content of Kensington samples exceeded the
Ministry of Agriculture standard by over 20 per cent. or, in other words, the samples would have
been returned as genuine by the Public Analyst even though about 20 per cent. of the fat might
have been removed.
The table shows that the average fat and non-fatty solid content for each month of the year
is well above the legal standard and makes it clear that suspicion should fall on every sample
which at any time of the year shows a fat content as low as 3 per cent.
Addition of Colouring Matter to Milk.—Section 4 of the Milk and Dairies (Amendment) Act,
1922, prohibits the addition of any colouring matter, or water, or re-constituted, or skimmed or
separated milk, to milk intended for sale. This section enables the Council to deal with cases in
which additions are made for fraudulent purposes, but in which difficulty is experienced in proving
that the mixture is sold as milk. In one sample taken during the year the presence of artificial
colouring matter was detected and proceedings were taken against the vendor. The summons was
subsequently withdrawn owing to the death of the defendant.
Milk Utensils in Infected Houses.—The practice commenced in 1922 of sending information to
milk retailers supplying milk to houses in which cases of infectious disease are being nursed at
home was continued throughout the year, and from the date of the receipt of my notification to the
date of a later communication stating that the house is free from infection, no milk vessel belonging
to a dealer has been allowed to enter the home in question.
The procedure seems to meet with general favour and the dealers invariably express their
thanks for the information received.
Cowsheds.—There are no cowsheds in Kensington.
MEAT.
Slaughter Houses.—These are licensed annually by the London County Council in the month
of October and the five Kensington licences granted in 1926 were renewed in 1927. These premises
are kept in a cleanly condition, and from a structural point of view are not open to objection. During
the year over 2,000 pigs were killed in the slaughterhouse in Walmer Road and the licence in respect
of the premises was renewed by the London County Council in October, subject to the same conditions
as in the previous year, namely, that the premises be not used for the purpose of slaughtering on
more than twenty Sundays in the year, that slaughtering on Sundays be carried out in the forenoon
only, that the licensee do inform the Council of the Royal Borough of Kensington on the previous
day when he intends to slaughter animals on a Sunday, and that on week-days cattle be slaughtered
between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. in the months of May, June, July, August and September,
and between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., during the remainder of the year.
By-laws prescribing humane slaughtering came into operation in London during 1924, and
approved methods have been adopted at each of the slaughterhouses in the Borough. The
Council's Food Inspector makes frequent inspections to satisfy himself that these humane methods
of slaughtering are applied satisfactorily.