54 STANDARD METHODS JOURNAL Changes m New Edition of Standard Methods Of Milk Analysis* of MILK TECHNOLOG Y The forthcoming seventh edition of The only incubators approved are the water­ jacketed and anhydric laboratory types with Standard Methods of Milk Analysis (pub­ low temperature heating units operating at lished by the American Public Hea_lth temperatures only slightly in excess of 3? 0 C., Volume 2 March, 1939 Number 2 Association) will carry the new title and incubator rooms of proper constructiOn. "Standard Methods for the Examination Specifications for glassware are drawn in of Dairy Products." The ice cream sec­ greater detail than formerly. tion will be further developed by the More accurate methods are given for rinse Editorials work of the Joint Committee on Standard tests from glass and paper bottles. Tbe opinimzs and ideas expt·essed in papers and editorials are those of the respective authot·s. Methods for the Examination of Frozen The direct miscroscopic test is described in The expt·essio~s of the As.rociation are completely recorded in its transactio111. Desserts as approved by the Laboratory greater detail, particularly for the examinatioll, of pasteurized milk. All agar plates must be and the Food and Nutrition Sections of checked frequently enough to detect the pres­ the American Public Health Association. ence of excessive numbers of bacteria in milti Order Out of Chaos The most important changes in the new and cream where they do not grow on the plates. Only in this way can excessive num. The increasing public-health mindedness of the people has been finding at least edition are as follows: hers of bacteria be detected. one avenue of expression through the enactment of more effective programs for the The bacteriological methods in the first fiv_e sections cover samples, agar plate counts, dr­ The methylene blue thiocyanate tablets are sanitary production, processing, and distribution of milk and other dairy products. rect microscopic counts, methylene blue reduc­ accepted as standard. As one community after another inaugurated such control, standards for product and tion technic, and sediment tests. The four No reference is made to the resazurin tes · process were established which seemed adequate for the local conditions. Milk con­ following sections describe methods for the because further study must be made before the trol islands, so to speak, came into existence in scatterecllocalities all over the country. isolation and identification of coliform bac­ results are accepted as significant. teria, hemolytic streptococci, tubercle bacilli, The continuation of this sort of development has led to an increasing heterogeneity Reference is made tQ the modified form o£ in standards of product, requirements for production, and specifications for processing. and undulant fever organisms, respectively. the methylene blue··-reduction technic no'\\1 Section 10 includes ice cream methods, and officially approved in England. Sometimes, those of neighboring communities are contradictory, frequently they are Section 11 the butter methods. The text of The description of the sediment technic has inconsistent, and usually they are confusing in their varietY.. and exaggerated individu­ the bacteriological section has been rewritten, ality. The situation is even more confusing where the local requirements are not and a subject index prepared. been improved. Beginning July 1, 1939, standard agar me- Brilliant green lactose bile broth, sodium printed, or even if available, are interpreted by the unpredictable impulses of the dium is to have the following composition: formate ricinoleate lrtoth, violet red bile ~Sa,r; local enforcement officer. Bacto-Tryptone .................................. 5 gr. and sodium desoxycholate agar are approved Compliance with the local requirements m').y be a needlessly costly undertaking. Bacto-meat extr. ................................ 3 gr. for detecting coliform bacteria in dairy proo­ In the case of milk production on a milk shed covered by conflicting regulations, the Glucose ----------------------------------------······ 1 gr. ucts. farmer may find himself in the predicament of the fabled chameleon (a lizard which Skim milk .......................................... 10 cc. Methods for plating on blood agar and the (Where dilutions are greater than 1 : 10) use of Burri agar slants are described fo~ de­ changes its color to match its environment) which got on a Scotch plaid. It is even Agar .................................................. 15 gr. tecting pathogenic, usually hemolytic sp:ep­ more expensive for an equipment manufacturer to provide special, non-standard types Reaction .............................. pH 6.6 to 7.0 tococci. References are given to methods of • of machinery in a territory where aggressive individualism is nonconforming, expres­ Preferred reaction .................................. 7 .0 identifying species of streptococci by cultur.1l sive, and authoritative. While incubation at 37° C. (not 37.5° C) and serological procedures. Also tentative In an effort to alleviate some of these conditions, the International Association of is to be continued until laboratories doing methods are included for the identification of milk work are more generally equipped with tubercle bacilli and Brucella organisms in milk Milk Dealers organized its Committee on Simplified Pra~tice to help in securing agree­ approved incubators, the variation in tempera­ and cream. ment within the organization on uniform dimensions and certain standards for equip­ ture permitted was changed to 35° - 37° C. Directions are given for making yeast and ment and appurtenances. Secretary Hibben of the International Association of Ice rather than 35.5° - 37.5° C. as at present. mold counts on butter, and bioassays of vita· Cream Manufacturers has pointed out (1) the industrial hardship of arbitrary and Agar plates must be counted under con- minD milk. conflicting regulations, and urged the adoption of some procedure that would make stant illumination. The Quebec Colony It is expected that the new (Seventh) edi· Counter is recommended. equipment available that would be approved by all health officers. He stared that tion will be printed early in 1939. some health officials refuse to approve or condemn a piece of equipment until after it -.Summarized from Amer. J. Pub. Health 28 (12) J. H. SHRADER. ~as been installed. Some suddenly condemn a piece that has been in approved opera­ 1447 (1938). tion for years. He proposed that a joint committee of the ice cream manufacturers, the _suppli·es association, and the milk sanitarians set up a program for approval of equipment at its source of manufacture so that its stamp of approval would be ac­ ceptable to the different city, county, and state health departments. 56 EDITORIALS JOURNAL OF MILK TECHNOLOGY 57 The late President Calvert of the Dairy Industries Supply Association urged the Connecticut Association of Dairy and Milk Inspectors International Association of Milk Sanitarians (2) "to join with us in an attempt to set up some forum where there will be an exchange of opinion on the details of It is with great pleasure that we welcome the Connecticut Association of Dairy constru_ction and operation of dairy equipment so as to avoid the helter skelter, hit and Milk Inspectors into the growing family of dairy associations that are affilia~d an_d miss method _that now prevails." His association organized a Technical Com­ with the International Association of Milk Sanitarians through the Jottrnal of Mtlk mittee through whiCh they sought to establish cooperation in solving this type of their TechnoLogy. This influential group of_ eastern _milk inspecto~s took_ action at their problems. annual meeting on January lOth to destgnate thts Journal as 1ts offiCial organ. The To implement these reasonable presentations, the Committee on Sanitary Pro­ field of dairy technology and sup_ervision (both official and in~ustri~l) is broadeni?-g cedure was appointed last year by President Tolland of the International Association ,wd becoming increasingly techmcal. Every person engaged 10 th1s work needs In­ of Milk_~anitaria~s to co?perate with . the industry in a more general ptograrri of spiration as well as information f~om _ other workers. ~e ar~ sure that our new , standardizmg details of milk plant equipment. The first report of the work of this 1ssociates will make valuable contnbutions to knowledge m th1s ~eld, and that the collaboratio~ (3) ~howed that it was possible to secure an agreement on the design of service rendered by the JOURNAL OF MILK TECHNOLOGY w1ll be strengthened recessless p1pe unwns, tees and crosses, bends, and union nuts for connecting ther­ and improved. · m~meters to vats and sanitary pipe lines, that would meet all health department regu­ J. H. S. latiOns. This representative and highly qualified committee held that it could "ac­ cept" a pi·ece of equipment as being of the best possible design in the light of current Bang's Disease Eradication knowledge, but that this action did not assume that these designs were permanent. A_n example of the effect of this policy of acceptance of outstanding designs on the The plan for indemnifying owners fo~ animals which react to the agglu_ti~ation stimulus to make further improvement was the immediate invention of an ingenious blood test for Bang's disease becomes effective under federal and state supervtswn on a?d inexpensive union nut for att~c~i~g. indic_atin~ ~herm?meters to vats and pipe May 1, 1939.