MILK IN SCHOOLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24078, 24 September 1941, Page 4

MILK IN SCHOOLS

Sir, —We, the contractors, feel it our duty to correct the misstatements made in the letter of your correspondent, "Anxious Parent." Jn the first place, all school milk delivered in Auckland is freshly bottled daily. The quality of the milk is safe-guarded by no less than three authorities. The inspectors of the Department of Health in.conjunction with the Government analyst and the Auckland Hospital regularly test the milk on arrival at the factory, at different stages in the factory processing and, finally after bottling has been completed. Surprise visits are paid to the schools, where further samples of the bottled milk are taken. The results of the testing are consistently good. The Department of Agriculture is constantly supervising the production of milk on the farm. Furthermore, all farmers supplying milk for schools or the city trade must obtain special licences from this department and eonform to a high standard of cleanliness and equipment. The Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council has inspectors visiting farms, treating factories and dairies. This body alone tests over 6000 samples per annum. From the above it will be realised that school milk is under very strict control and every care is taken from the farm to the school. We consider that in all fairness your correspondent should have obtained correct information from the Department of Health before rushing into print and, no doubt, creating anxiety in the minds of other parents. As to fhe value ol milk for school children, we do not know of any authority condemning the consumption of milk, the "almost perfect food." Amtiubvs, Limited. Stonf.x Bitos., Lto.