British Food Journal Volume 41 Issue 9 1939

The estimation of the coliform content is the usual complement to the bacterial count. The value of the coliform examination in the bacteriological analysis of water is well attested by years of experience but the fundamental assumptions on which its interpretation is based do not hold true for milk. The estimation of the coliform organisms in milk is a presumptive and not a positive test. These organisms are not usually found in the udder but are often present in the fore‐milk. They are, however, constantly present in the excrement and on dirty, inefficiently cleansed and sterilised utensils.