PASTEURISATION OF MILK

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27112, 7 August 1953, Page 10

PASTEURISATION OF MILK

ORDER TO TREATING HOUSES

EXPLANATION BY DR. D. P. KENNEDY Authorised by the Minister of Health (Mr J. R. Marshall), an order for the pasteurisation of all milk handled by the three main treating houses in Christchurch has been issued by the Medical Officer of Health for the Christchurch-Greymouth Health District (Dr. D. P. Kennedy). Dr. Kennedy returned from Wellington yesterday with the order, authorised by the Minister under Section 76 of the Health Act, 1920, which details special powers for preventing the outbreak or spread of infectious diseases. "With two cases of typhoid notified —and remaining notified —by the Christchurch Public Hospital, the probable channel of infection was raw milk,” said Dr. Kennedy yesterday. "This being the case, no unnecessary risks can be taken with public health.

“Accordingly, while investigations proceed, steps have been token to ensure that the three main treating houses issue only pasteurised milk. An order to this effect, ratifying action already taken, is being issued today. “This action is taken neither by the Milk Board nor the companies concerned. It follows a direct instruction, authorised under the Health Act, from me,” said Dr. Kennedy. Open Forum “A Flop” He considered it inopportune to enter into public debate while investigations went on, but he recalled that he and his predecessor had spoken frequently of the reasons for pasteurisation. While the recent health exhibition was in Christchurch there had been an open forum when departmental officers had been available for questioning. "So little advantage was taken of this opportunity that the open forum was a complete flop. "It can hardly be said that the department in the past has not given every possible airing to the role of raw milk as a vehicle of enteric and other infections.”

Dr. Kennedy’s order was referred yesterday to Mr W. P. Warner, a member of the Christchurch Metropolitan Milk Board, which last Friday requested the milk treating houses to pasteurise all milk. Mr Warner declined to comment in the absence of the chairman of the board (Mr J. Mathison. M.P.), except to give an assurance that the treating houses could cope with the extra demand for pasteurisation. A representative of one of the treating houses declined to comment.