274 THE MILK QUESTION) 



Condensed milk is expensive food at the prices at which 

 it is ordinarily sold. Thus, if condensed milk is diluted 

 with enough water to make a quart of a Massachusetts 

 standard milk (containing 3.35 per cent of fat), the cost 

 of condensed milk exceeds the price of ordinary milk; in 

 some instances it equals the price of inspected milk, and in 

 others is more than that of some brands of certified milk. 

 It follows that condensed milk cannot be employed eco- 

 nomically where whole milk is procurable. 



At one time condensed milk was widely advertised and 

 advocated for infant feeding. Directions for dilution for 

 this purpose appear upon the labels of most brands. Mix- 

 tures made according to the formulae suggested would be 

 deficient, in practically every instance, in percentage of 

 milk constituents as compared with human milk. One 

 thing is certain that the infant morbidity and mortality 

 is the highest in babies fed upon condensed milk or proprie- 

 tary foods. Condensed milk should never be given to a 

 baby without the advice of a physician, and that will sel- 

 dom be obtained. 



The impression that most condensed milk is free from 

 bacteria is not founded on fact. Dr. Slack, when director 

 of the bacteriological laboratory of the Boston Board of 

 Health, found that few of the brands on the market are 

 really sterile. Slack found as high as 10,000,000 bacteria per 

 cubic centimetre in the condensed milk of a certain brand. 

 Counts as high as a half a million are not uncommon. 



Jordan and Mott conclude that there is no justification 

 in the use of misleading statements by the manufacturers of 

 these substances, and that this should be prohibited by law; 

 further, that packages of condensed milk should bear a 

 formula for diluting with water so that the resulting pro- 

 duct shall not be below the standard for milk solids and 

 fat of any state in which the original product may be sold. 

 This end will only be obtained by state legislation. 



Powdered milk. Milk may also be obtained in powdered 



