WATERED MILK

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 31, 20 February 1937, Page 6

WATERED MILK

Innocent Offence in Milk Bar AUCKLAND, Last Night. A recommendation that the Health Department should send out circulars to all trades people who were accustomed to keep milk in refrigerators, was made by Mr C. It. Orr Walker, S.M.,in tho Magistrate's Court, in convicting and discharging a milk bar proprietor for selling milk containing 10 per cent of added water. Sub-Inspector Fox" said that tho Health Department had taken the proeeedings mainly beeause it was thougbt advisable to give publicity to an offence of this nature. In a letter to the police Dr. Makgill, medical officer of health, said that a sample was taken from a refrigetator in the milk ba.r. It wa* iounil that the temperature of the refrigerator was set so low that any milk left overnight would f reeze to a depth of .two inches on the bottom of the ean and the liquid milk above would have frozen particles floating on the top. Tho method of thawing a frozen block was to plaee it in other milk. The frozen block of milk apparently contained an exceedingly high water content, and .wa» the cause of the additional water 'in the sample which had been taken by the inspector. There was every rwison to believe water had been added innocently when tbe milk was being tbawed. It was the first case of its kind in Anskland, said Sub-Inspector Fox, and in view of the fhet that there were many shops using refrigerators in tbe eity, pnblicity would be desirable. He | asked that lio penalty be inflieted. ''This appears to be a very unusual ' Case," said the.Magisfcrate. "It is well that the matter has been brought belm ihe publie to ensure it does not |appM again. It would perhaps be a tood fdea if the Health Department JlPt jh; ta th« people interestecl."