Use of Hydrogen Peroxide as a Milk Preservative

an official enquiry prompted by a commercial firm in order to know whether a limited amount of hydrogen peroxide can be used in preservation of milk for 48 hours longer than raw milk under ordinary condition. Under the Public Health Regulation now in force in the U.K. or India hydrogen peroxide has been classed as a nonpermitted preservative in foodstuffs. Although any kmd of preservative in a foodstuff has been prohibited under the general restriction order, it is doubtful whether such a course is expedient in the case of hydrogen peroxide where a very small amount is necessary to preserve the milk with hardly any loss of its taste, quality and nutritive value. Besides, the chemical itself on remaining in contact with the organic matter of the foodstuff breaks up into nascent oxygen and water, leaving it quite harmless. Specially purified metallic free hydrogen peroxide is now being prepared by electrolysis in