asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the disturbing figures supplied in reply to a recent question concerning the contaminated and dangerous state of domestic milk supplies in all grades, including highest grade, pasteurised and loose milk, he proposes to take such steps as he considers desirable to eliminate such avoidable dangers to health.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Domestic Milk Supplies.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the fact that samples of milk fail to passsome of the tests referred to in my reply to his question on 5th March does not show that the milk is actually dangerous for human consumption but indicates that the milk was not produced and handled in a manner conforming to the hygienic standards specified in the relevant regulations.
The herds, equipment and production methods of holders of licences to produce highest grade milk, and the premises and equipment of holders of licences to pasteurise milk, are subject to inspection by officers of my Department to ensure that the standards specified in the regulations are complied with. The herds, premises, equipment and production methods of other registered milk producers are similarly subject to inspection by the veterinary officers of the local sanitary authorities. Special inspections and investigations are carried out in cases where samples of milk tested are found to be unsatisfactory and the appropriate action warranted by the circumstances is taken in each case.
I consider the figures circulated in reply to the question last week particularly distrubing inasmuch as they have shown that approximately 20 per cent. of the tests taken of the higher grade of milk, 20 per cent. of pasteurised and 15 per cent. of loose milk were below the accepted standards of the Department of Agriculture. Surely it is not proper that milk graded highest grade should continue to be foisted on the public under that heading? We are now, in fact, in the position in which we should reverse the label and have loose milk labelled highest grade and highest grade labelled loose. The traders who sell milk and collect money for selling highest grade are, in fact, perpetrating a fraud. Surely the Minister must be justified in taking some steps to rectify the situation.