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7(J
In the case of sample T 79, Pasteurised Milk, supplied to (lie Mile End
Hospital legal proceedings were taken against the contractor. The sample
contained 100,800 bacteria per c.c. and the coliform bacillus was present in
0.00001 c.c. (In Holland pasteurised milk must contain not more than
25,000 bacteria per c.c. and B. Coli must be absent; in New Zealand pasteurised
milk must not contain living bacilli. The English standard allows 100,000
organisms per c.c. and no test for the coliform bacillus is required). The
Bacillus Coli inhabits t in; intestinal tracts of animals and the presence of this
organism in milk indicates excremental contamination. The test for the
"Coliform Bacillus" described in the Regulations includes all variants of
the Bacillus Coli which are capable of fermenting milk sugar with the production
of acid and gas.
The milk in the udder of a healthy cow is sterile; contamination commences
during milking, from excremental matter, dust, etc., and continues
from outside sources until the milk is consumed. (The straining of milk
renders it clean to the eye by removing obvious dirt, but the bacterial
contamination remains in the milk).
Pasteurisation destroys a very high proportion of the bacteria present.
It is doubtful whether this sample had ever been pasteurised. Certainly
the milk was not lit to be supplied to hospital patients.
The test for the coliform bacillus is required for all graded milks with the
exception of pasteurised milk so that the high coliform bacillus content
which confirmed the unsatisfactory nature of the sample could not be produced
as evidence in Court.
The magistrate dismissed the summons with £26 5s. 0d costs against
the Council, as in his opinion (1) the milk should have been "mixed or
plunged," and (2) the sample should have been packed in ice during transit
from the hospital to the laboratory.
With regard to the first point the inspector was satisfied that the milk
was thoroughly mixed by shaking. It was stated that the milk could not
have been properly mixed and that the bacteria would be present in the
greatest number in the upper layer of fat. The fact that the milk was mixed
was indicated by the chemical analysis of the sample which showed 3.30
per cent. of fat (the contract requires 3.25 per cent. of fat). If the fat had
been on the top as suggested a much higher figure would have been obtained.