[The milk-kitchen situation 1975 (author's transl)]

Results of the second enquiry organished by the milk-kitchen commission of the German paediatric Association. Questionnaires were sent to 500 German and foreign paediatric and obstetric departments. In paediatric departments not much has changed since the first enquiry five years ago. As then 85% of paediatric departments have a central milk-kitchen. Food is - in the main - prepared once in 24 hours. One half of them use milk powder, fluid food has risen only slightly. Bacteriologic controls of food and personel are unfortunately carried out only at too long intervals. In departments for premature infants the one-way bottle with uperised milk has been widely accepted. Almost all obstetric departments have abandoned their central milk-kitchens and provide fluid nourishment except where they are connected with the central milk-kitchen of a paediatric department. Since almost all directors of departments replied, the present result is representative and shows little change. The reasons for this are discussed and the need for careful control of feed-preparation and cooling chains emphasized. According to a recommendation of the German paediatric Association to the national Ministry of Health the handling of food for babies in paediatric departments should be brought into line with the regulations.