IMPURE MILK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19802, 29 May 1926, Page 11

IMPURE MILK.

FAILURE TO STAND TEST* AUCKLAND VENDOPvS FINED. CPeb United Pares Association.) AUCKLAND, May 28. The failure of milk to stand up to the reductase test for the required period of three hours resulted in the prosecution of three vendors in the Police Court. Mr V. N. Hubble appeared for the Health Department. In the case of the Auckland Milk Company (Ltd.) (Mr Grey) a breach was admitted. Mr Hubble said that since the prominence given to the reductase test last year legislation had been introduced to require that a sample should be treated within four hours of its sale. This was to reduce the possibility of interior deterioration. When a solution of metbyime blue was applied good milk would withstand discolouration for at least three hours. Milk which discoloured in shorter periods was unfit for sale owing to the presence of excessive bacteria. If the test took less than two hours the milk was definitely bad. An inspector obtained a sample from a shop at Devonport, owned by the Auckland Milk Company (Ltd.). The milk withstood the test for only 20 minutes. Mr Grey said the inspector had been served by a little girl who had unfortunately drawn on the wrong can. The Inspector stated the “little” girl appeared to be at least 24 years of age. Mr Hunt: If the inspector got bad milk the public would have got it too. Nest time I will impose a fine of £25 or £SO. Defendants were fined £lO. A plea of not guilty was entered by James Preston, of Takapuna (Mr Chalmers). Mr Hubble said the milk was a sample which had yielded to the reductase test in one hour and a-quarter. Inspector White said he had just purchased the milk when defendant arrived with a fresh supply. He told witness he had been delayed with the morning’s supply. The Magistrate; If a woman with a sick child nad bought the milk she would have got she old supply. It was a mistake, but I cannot have mistakes with milk. A fine of £5 was imposed. William Yonng (Mr E. Dyson), of Boradway, Newmarket, also pleaded not guilty. Evidence was given that defendants’s milk had succumbed to the test in two hours. Counsel suggested that the milk could have been contaminated during transference to the laboratory. Ho said that the defendant's sales were very small. Defendant was convicted and fined £l.