Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-14
COOLING PROCESS
KEEPS BACTERIA +,
LOW|ND D. c. MILK
Vigilance of Health Body Re-
suits in Refrigeration on
Dairy Farms.
REGULATIONS ENFORCED
DESPITE MANY PROTESTS
Officials Hold Washington's Milk
Supply at Present Is Best
in History.

Vigilance on the part of the District
Health Department in safeguarding
Washingtons milk supply, especially
during the Summer, has resulted in the
installation of mechanical refrigerating
apparatus on a large proportion of
the Maryland and Virginia dairy farms
supplying the local markets.
Despite many complaints from dairy
men against regulations requiring that
milk be cooled at a temperature of at
least so degrees until 1t Is received at
washington diaries, Health Department
ofilcials said there would be no let-up
In the enforcement of those rules.
Public Health Paramount.
The health of the public. 1t was
pointed out, is far more important than
the inconvenience or the expense to
which many dairymen are being put in
order to remain in the WASHINGTON
trade. While the regulation will be en-
forced throughout the year, it is all the
more imperative to keep a close watch
out during the warm Summer months,
1t was pointed out, If the high standard
Of District milk is to be maintained.
Above temperature of so degrees the
bacteria content of the milk increases to
an alarming degree. At so degrees or be-
low, the germs are killed. For this rea-
son, the District Health Department
has ordered that between o'clock in
the morning and noon, the period be-
tween milking and delivery. the product
must be maintained at a safe tenn
perature. This means that dairymen
wishing to continue in the Washing
ton trade must take measures to keep
their product chilled until delivery.
The installation of cooling systems on
~ "a De aa& to-
sense, health officials said, but 1t works
that way commercially. Some of the
dairymen are looking for new markets
for their product, rather than go to the
expense Of installing cooling systems,
but one by one, 1t was said, these are
coming into the Health Department to
explain that they wish to get back on
the list OF approved dairy farms.
Meeting d. C. Regulations.
In some communities approximately
so per cent of the dairy farms are
meeting the District regulations in this
respect Rather than lose out in trade,
1t was believed large majority of the
farms in time will be adequately
equipped with cooling apparatus.
washingtons milk supply at present
n the best in the city's history, health
officials say. and every effort will be
made to maintain this high standard.
AS q result of the vigilance of in
spectors on their frequent visits to out
lying dairy farms, it was reported that
the average temperature of milk is
about 40 degrees when it is shipped into
the city. In many cases it is as low as
"a degrees.
1t Is of interest to dairymen to keep
down the bacteria content of their milk,
1t was said, owing to the bonuses they
would otherwise lose through their con-
tracts with local diaries. II the average
score Of pasteuriZed and raw milk falls
below 20 per cent, the bonus is withheld.
The temperature Of the milk bears i'm
portantly on the general average of
the score.