The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-19
CHANGES
REQUIRED IN NEW
MILK ORDINANCE
City Commission Adopts
New Measure Prepared
by Board of Health for
Pastuerization

Radical chances Neftecting the distrbu-
ton and handling Of Birmingham's milk
supply We're adopted late yesterday by
the city commission.
Passage OF the ordinance requiring
pasteurizatioa Of milk sold in Birming-
ham ana fixing prescribed bacterial stand
ards marked the end Of bitter fight be-
tween dairymen and the board of health
that was starred with the introduction
of the measure last March
High points IL the ordinance are the
delegation OF absolute and final power
to the board Of health to regulate and
Central the production and handling OF
milk in the city and the authority to re-
voAS permits ana to conEscate and de-
stroS airy or ali milk below standard or
that is not handled in accordance with
the regulations.
Conviction in court for violation is suf-
hcient ground tot revoking or withhold
ing a permit IL sell milk. After the fevo-
cation of permit the board of HEALTHY
may require tie EXECUTION Of a $500 bond
as a guarantee of future compliance be-
fore The renewal of permit.
GRADES PRESCRIBED
Milk and cream are classified into
milk is permitted to be sold raw which
in excess 5000 bacteria, ard all
mtk with a high bacterial content is re-
quired to be Iastcurized and shall not
contain more than $1,000 bacteria after
paste irritation and before delivery to the
consumer.
Raw milk shall not be sold to consum-
ers except in sealed and sterilized bot
ties Pasteurized milk shall not be sold
In, ff pnllOp less
cept IN bottle which have been sterilized,
filled and CAPPED by machinery.
Milk sold in cans shall be sealed and
this seal broNol only by or in the pres
ence of purchaser or consumer. The pour
ing or dipping of milk in or along the
street S prohibited.
All machinery used in connection with
the pasteurization process shall be APP
proved by the health officer and the pas
teurization snail be in strict accordance
with me regulations.
Dairy farms producing and selling raw
milk shall show not less than 50 points
on the score card, 50 points Of which shall
be on methods and the remainder ON
equipment.
Employees of such dairies shall have
a medical examination every three
months TO determine the absence of
communicable disease, and all cows in
such herds shall be tested annually for
tuberculosis.
PUNISHMENT FIXED
Violators of the ordinance are pun
ishable by fine or Imprisonment, or
both, and the minimum fine is $40.
1t is expected that operation of the
ordinance viii cause so to 80 per cent
of the present milk supply Of Birming-
ham to lie pasteurized before being sold
here.
Sixty-three per cent Of the milk last
month was below the standard.
passage of this ordinance means
that the public will be protected against
contracting disease from the use of
milk DR.. j. D. bowling, health officer
commented "The growth of Birming-
ham and the lack of development of the
dairy Industry from which II has here
tofore obtained its milk supply has
made this change inevitable and abso-
lutely necessary.
Under its provisions milk may be
brought in from greater distances and
prepared for local distributions The
dairy industry is passing through
critical period, due to the high cost OF
feed labor and material yet the high
est authorities among both the pro-
ducers and distributors agree that the
pasteurization of milk is boon TO the
industry Public healt hauthorities are
universally agreed that pasteurization
of milk is a necessary and fundamental
public health measure.
THE new regulations contain moth
ing that Is not already in practical OPP
Grafton in hundreds Of other cities, and
while 1t may be expected that enforce
ment OF these new regulations VIII be
the occasion for temporary disturb.
ance locally in the long run they VIII
increase both the demand ana supply
of milk in Birmingham
at is known that many thousands OF
people are not using fresh milk because
they are not satisfied that it is safe.
and to this class of people pasteuriza-
ton should restore confidence and re-
suit in their return to the use or lresh
milk instead Of canned products
Blankets Failed to