Penicillin Suspected For Cheese Failures

Chronicle (Levin), 7 October 1948, Page 7

Penicillin Suspected For Cheese Failures

Press Association)

(Per

HAMILTON, Oct. 5. Penicillin is suspected as the cause of starter failures experieneed in some 1 Waikato cheese factories this ' season. j It is thought that the troubje may be due to the failure of some suppliers to withhold teniporarily milk from cows which have been treated with the drug to cure them of mammitis. In his monthly message to suppliers the general manager of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., Mr. II. Davey, said that starter failures had been experieneed at most factories on occasions. The troub'le at one factory, however, beeame so pronounced that the company had come to the conclusion that penicillin was the cause, particularly as the factory was situated in a distriet at which it was known that the drug was being widelv used. Mr. Davey emphasised the necessitv of withholding teniporarily from tlic factory milk from treated cows, in accordance with directions for use which accoinpanied penicillin. He said the failure of the starter affected the quality of the cheese and the longer time required for its manufacture meant increased costs.