The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-23
milk PRODUCERS
AID DEPAR TMENT.
Dairy and Food Report Shows
Growing Improvement in
Dairy Conditions.
MANY INSPECTIONS MADE
Officials Visit All Places Where
Food Is Prepared or
Produced.
MANY INSPECTIONS

Dairymen all over Virginia arc try
Ing to secure such conditions in their
plants as will comply with the require
ments of dairy and food departments.
State and local, according to the sec
ond annual report OF State Dairy and
Food Commissioner W. D. Saunders.
Just made public. These dairymen.
says the report. realize that conditions
surrounding milk production are not
what they should be.
The inspection of dairics has been
consistently carried on BY the depart
ment. Most OF the cities in Virginia
have health ofiiciaIs. who. IN connec-
tion with their other duties, are deal
ing with the question of milk produc-
tion so far as 1t concerns their own
consumers. In some cases MIR Saun-
ders feels this supervision is very
effective. and the dairics surrounding
such communities have made consid-
cradle advance in the production of
sanitary milk
However. elsewhere the health OIL
Gals have been of recent creation and
have not systcmatizcd the work OF
dealing W., dairles supplying the
towns. Conditions in these localities
arc not satisfactory to The depart
mcnt
Many improvements Needed
In the main. says the report the
dealers In aud producers of food pro-
ducts in this State have continued to
show disposition to conform to the
laws and regulations dealing there
Win. and as result tho general con
ditions, compared with those OF a wear
ago, are considerably improved.
There remains, however. good deal
10 be done, ana almost continued in
spections in certain lines arc found nee
essary In ordcritc maintain satisfactory
conditions. These inspections include
the examination OF all places where
1000 is produced. prepared or offered
for salc
Very effective work, Sir. Saunders
sta ties. has been done in connection
with the inspection of hotels and res
taurants. Objectiona BILE features in
connection with the kitchens of such
establishments have been removed In
q great many eases The screening of
windows and doors has been required,
and the general sanitary conditions
about such places have been improved
Must Stcrilfxe Bottles.
Another object of the departments
efforts has been the inspection of es-
Establishments putting out what ure gen
orally called soft drinks, as well as
bottling plants of all kinds. with a
View TO securing better sanitary cond,-
lions. Bottled goods are sent out all
over the State and the bottles are re-
turned 20 he refilied. This practice.
in the opinion Of the commissioner re-
quires strict attention to the proDer
cleansing and sterilization of bottles
before refilling. Such establishments
have been required TO nut in the neces-
sary equipment to properly sterilize all
bottles before they arc filled.
Establishments preparing oysters and
crabs for the market have hcen made
to provide better sanitary surroundings
and also to sterilizc all packages in
which such products arc handled The
practice of shipping oysters in contact
with ice has been objected TO- in that
the oysters take up the melted ice. and
the purchaser pays for water when he
buys oysters. Containers now used
arc in ice. but the oysters do not come
IN contact with the frozen product.
Shippers OF oysters are now said to be
conforming In great measure to the
rules laid down.
Other inspections.
The misbranding and adiilteration OF
food products is being dealt with, and
violations of the law are reported to
prosecuting officers.
The results of cattle testing are de-
clared to indicate the necessity for the
N'>'' > 'sAii w " ~ SpditN at All llnGS
10 strike a balance with his cows and
determine which OF his animals are pro.
ducing at profit or are being sup
ported at a loss.
The report contains much statistical
information as &c the results OF analy
ses OF foods of various kinds. 1t also
has articles by Commissioner w. D.
Saunders on Balanced Ration for the
Dairy Cow; by c. ". Holloway, on |
"Co-operatiyc Herd Testina for Sn,,,t
Dairymen," and BY Deputy Commission
er b. l. Purcnll on ..Rnsl,Its az ~ L, ;,