New Britain herald., 1916-08-25
GOVERNMENT RULES
 FOR CARE OF MILK
Specialist Formula Says Keep It
 Clean, Cold, Covered

Washington, D. C., Aug. 25.-The
 three "C's" for the proper care o1
 milk in the home, according to the
 diary specialists of the United States Department of Agriculture, are: Keep milk clean, keep milk cold keep milk covered.
 Milk is a highly perishable food and the length of time it will remain | sweet and safe, especially for chil- dren, depends. the specialists say, al- most entirely upon the constant care it receives from COW to consumer. Milk passes through three agencies-the producer, the dealer, and the con- sumer If the first two have done their part, clean, safe milk will be delivered, thoroughly chilled, to the consumer. The consumers responsi- bility begins the moment the milk is delivered at his doorstep.
 Because milk poured from vessel to vessel on the street is very liable to contamination from dust, manure rar- ticles and germs, milk is best de1iv- cred in capped bottles. If bottled milk can not be obtained, the house. wife should try to have someone In II, scalded utensil, cover it instantly, and put it without delay into the refriger- ator, or the coldest available place Under no circumstance should an un- covered pitcher, bowl or pan be left out on the porch to receive bulk milk The vessel, both before and after the milk is poured into 1t, is accessible to flies and collects particles of dust and dirt.
 Even In the case of bottled milk, however, the consumer must see that the bottle is not left in the heat for a moment longer than is necessary Milk should be delivered and kept at a temperature of 50 degrees F. or lower-the colder the better. At such temperatures bacteria develop very slowly and milk undergoes little change until consumed. A slight rise in temperature above this point, how ever, pea~1its bacteria to multiply rap idly and brings about rapid deteriora- tion of the milk, which may render 1t unfit for ordinary use and mako it highly dangerous for babies and little children. For this reason bottled or other milk should not be allowed to remain in a warm place. as on a sum- a moment longer than Is necessary.
 Delivery of Milk in Hot Weather.
 In hot weather the best plan is 70 have the mil1man put the milk di- rectly into the refrigerator, because at that time of year milk can not be kept properly without ice. If a refriger- ator is not available, provide a small box containing ice, and if Ice is un- obtainable, provide some tight con- tainer with insulated walls that keep the heat from getting rapidly to the cold milk. A homemade f1reless cook CT is admirable for this purpose, es- pecially if partially filed with ice In the absence of any of these devices with the milkman not to leave the milk in the sunlight but to put it in the coolest, shadiest place around the house.
 Handling Milk in the Home.
 Tn handling milk around the home, do not pour 1t from one vessel to an other until it Is to be consumed Do not let the bottle of milk remain out of the refrigerator moment longer than is necessary. Keep the milk covered, using paper caps or an in verted tumbler on bottles, or storing it in covered utensils. Any household utensil that is to be used as a vessel for keeping milk should first be cleaned thoroughly and scalded
 Before opening a bottle of milk, wash and wipe the neck and outside of the cap with water and a clean cloth. The little depression on the top of the cap may collect dust or water and any milk that leaks out may attract flies. Lift out the cap with a pointed instrument, so that the outside of the cap, which may re contaminated, will not be pushed down into the milk Each time the milk is to be poured from the bottle it is a wise precaution to wash the neck asdescribed
 Milk in a Refrigerator.
 The refrigerator where milk is stored should be cleaned regularly, especial care being given to keeping the drip pipe free and clean. The icC rack also should be cleaned and any place where food is kept or milk stored should be scalded occasionally with sal-soda solution The refrig- orator, even though cold, may quick ly be contaminated by a few drops of spilled milk, or by small particles of food No matter how clean the re- fIigerator, milk should never be kept in an open vessel As milk absorbs odors easiy, such food as fish, cab bage, or onions should not be kept in proximity to it.
 Clean Empty Bottles.
 As soon as a milk bottle is emptied. rinse it thoroughly with cold water. Do not return dirty bottles and do not use milk bottles except to hold milk. Returning dirty bottles to the milkman may mean that a few lays later either your or your neigh bors will get contaminated milk. Milk bottles should never be taken into sick room. Tn case Of infectious or contagious disease, all bottles should h., hnilnd thnrn1lphlv and shonld not