WATER IN MILK

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 February 1937, Page 5

WATER IN MILK

TRACED TO REFRIGERATOR. [ PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, February 19. A recommendation that the Health Department, should send out circulars to all tradespeople who were accustomed to keep milk in refrigerators was made by Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., in iho Police Court in convicting and discharging a milk-bar proprietor for selling milk containing 10 per cent, of added water. Sub-Inspector J. Fox said that there wore some, unusual circumstances in the case. The Health Department had taken proceedings mainly because it was thought, advisable to give publicity to an offence of this nature. In a letter to the police Dr. R. 11. Makgill the Medical Officer of Health, said a ‘sample was taken from the refrigora lor in the mill; bar. Enquiries hac boon made, and il was found that th< temporal uro of the refrigerator w:rset so low that any mill:, loft over night, would freeze Io a depth of iw< inches on the bottom of the can. am the liquid milk above would havt frozen particles floating on top. ’flu method of thawing the frozen blocl was to place it in other milk. Th

frozen block of milk apparently contained an exceedingly high water con-1 tent, and was the cause of additional water in the sample which had been taken by the inspector. There was every reason to believe that the water had been added innocently when milk' was being thawed. It was the first case of the kind in Auckland, said the, sub-inspector, and because there were many shops using-refrigerators in the city publicity would be desirable. He asked that no penalty lie imposed. “This appears to be a very unusual case,” said the magistrate. “It is well that the mailer has been brought before the public to ensure ihat it does not happen again. It would perhaps be a good idea if the [Health Department, sent circulars to I the people interested."