Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-02-21

our various cities and towns is in
creasing," says Mr.. Brown.
These results are being obtained
by various means, among which are
the work of the local milk inspector,
the demand of en- ever increasing
discrimination on the part of many
consumers. advertising campaigns in
other Atates. inspection work by the
department and literature on dairy
sanitation" continues Mr.. Brown.
1T is unfortunate but nevertheless
fact, however, that large amount
Of this. our. most important food
product, is being handled rather
carelessly. This condition is result
of the lack Of knowledge on the part
Of the producer or dealer and can be
corrected fairly easily in most in
stances by little educational work.
The great difficulty here, however, is
to get in touch with the lax and care
less dealers. and this can never be
done, except in a comparatively few
instances, until sufficient amount
of money is appropriated so that at
least two men may be employed in
this department. One mans activi-
ties, when spread out over the vari-
GUS lines, included in this bureau,
cannot accomplish a great deal in
any one field of endeavor.
"The majority of the diaries in
spected have been satisfactory from
a public health standpoint. The own
ers have evidently tried to put pure
clean product upon the market, and
have endeavored to handle their milk
and cream according to sanitary
methods. There are, however, q fair
ly large minority of retail dealers in
this State who, either because of
carelessness or insufficient knowledge
of their business, are daily putting
out product which. while it may not
in most cases 'be-dangerous to health,
yet has very great possibilities of
contamination.
Practically all restaurants receive
their milk in cans, and it is a ecm-
mon practice in many of these cs-
adjustments for the chef, or some
one else, to remove the cream from
the top of the cans to be used in
cooking, for coffee, etc The SKINNED
milk is then sold over the counter to
anyone asking for glass of milk
Skinned milk at five or 10 cents a
glass is not appreciated by most
persons and, unless sold as skinned
milk, results in a violation of our
statutes. Twenty three restaurant
owners have during the past year
paid fines for the sale Of adulteNted
milk.
During the past year 374 samples
Of 49,
retail dealers residing in 60 different
towns and cities scattered through
the State. Several visits were made
to many of these places because q
few dealers were found to be selling
an inferior product. Twenty ght
persons during the past year paid
fines for selling milk which had
either been SKINNED or watered.
Twenty one creameries were in
spected during the year and all but
one were found to be in a very salts
factory sanitary condition. The only
criticism which / am going to make
has to do with their use Of the Bab-
cock Test. 1t is customary for most
OF the crea nleries to analyZe their
composite samples but once a month.
It is undoubtedly true that connposite
samples can be kept in good condi-
ton for a months time during the
summer. nevertheless frequently
find samples which are absolutely
Useless due to their docomposed con-
dition. I believe that all creameries
should be required to analyze SAM
pies at least every Is days.
''.As' the. result Of complaints in,a le
to this bureau. have run check
tests for % patrons Of four different
crcameries during The past year. Sew
eral other complaints arc on file and
viii be Investigated at the earliest
opportunity. Five rejected patrons
OF one creamery have been REIN
stated upon recommendation of this
department.
THE commissioner of agriculture
should in my opinion. have some
direct oversight, fixed by the T.sgis-
laturc. ovcx the local milk insncctors.
This is chiefly necessary because of
the failure of some, inspectors to full.
fill the duties of their Office