ENDING UPSETS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 43, 21 February 1939, Page 12

ENDING UPSETS.

MANUFACTURE OF CHEESE.

RESEARCH BY STATE OFFICERS.

Recent development* in the work of his Department in the field of dairy research were referred <o in an interview liy the Minister in charge of .the Department of Scientific i.nd Industrial Research, the Hon. D. <;. Sullivan.

The Minister said that the work being carried out by the Dairy Research Institute, besides l>eing of primary importance to (he dairy industry itsejf. also •held considerable importance for the consumer, who. perhaps, was not sufficiently aware of the value of the work that was being , done for his benefit.

From reports supplied to him ft appeared that in the past much difficulty had l>een experienced in cheese factories with starter cultures in the manufacture of cheese, added Mr. Sullivan. These cultures often became inactive or died in an inexplicable way. thus causing delay* " and upsets in the manufacturing process. The Dairy Research Institute had sueceeded in isolating special active forms of starter orpanisme, which appeared to lie less subject to failure. Even these, however, failed on occasions, the cause ~ beinjT traced to destruction by a mad] lower form of life known as bacteriophage, considered somewhat akin to a virus.

The most recent work of the institute had shown that the bacteriophage could be transmitted through the air in various ways. The newest theories indicated possibilities of effective control bv takin* sjiecial precautions to avoid atmospheric contamination of starter cultures.