St. Paul daily globe., 1889-03-17

pIOCoSSiOl VIII TeluTH O1 lHlTu uO Nd-
basha, where it will be dispersed by
FOOD THAT Is FIXED"
Prof Drew Thinks the State
Should Protect Consumers From
the Devices of the Producers of
Adulterated Food Stuffs.
Regarding the notorious adulteration
of food stuffs and the attitude which the
state should assume in order to check
and ultimately suppress the practice,
Prof. Charles W. Drew, Phi. B. NJ. D.,
chemist to the state dairy commission,
says:
Among the many economic problems
which are before the people for discus
sion and before the legislature for solu-
ton, there is none which is of greater
interest OF Importance to the people
of the state of Minnesota than that of
how best to protect the consumer from
the manifold devices of the producer OF
adulterated food StuffS. That the
adulteration evil exists and is of alarm
ing proportions there can at the present
time be no question. Evidence of its
extent and universally is everywhere
accumulating, and unless speedily
checked it bids fair to seriously endan-
ger health and to cripple and destroy
legitimate traffic in pure foods. Ex-
tended Investigations made for the gen.
eral government by the department of
agriculture: by the states of Massachu-
setts, New York, New Jersey, Ohio,
Michigan and in the Dominion of Can
ada, tend to prove that the conditions
are everywhere practically the same;
that adulteration and Justification
of food stuffs have extended
within the past few years to
every article in which they can be pro-
fitably practiced. Nor is evidence of the
existence of StupendouS frauds within
our own midst wanting, since extended
and careful Investigation shows that
very few of our foods have escaped the
cunning devices of these unScrupulOus
and dishonest manufacturers who prey
upon the health and the pockets of their
helpless and defenseless victims. With
in the past year there has been made
under the auSpicieS of the state dairy
commissioner thorough investigation
Of the nature and extent of of food
adulteration as practiced in this state.
About 400 samples Of articles which are
in almost daily use in all households
(nOt including dairy products) were sub
mitted to careful chemical examination
by the most approved and reliable
methods. The list of articles thus ex-
amined included baking powders, cream
of tartar vinegar, lard, tea, coffee,
mustard, ground spices, candies,
were all obtained in the ordinary
way of purchase and represent exactly
the character of goods which are daily
bought and consumed by the masses of
the people. Of the 400 samples exam
ined 800, OF about 6S per cent. were
found to be adulterated and inferior.
Of the baking powders so per cent of
the samples were alum powders, in
ferlor in character. harmful in nature
and thoroughly deserving of unmiti-
gated condemnation. Such powders
are shown by an average of many anal
yses to be prepared at a cost of not to
exceed s cents per pound. There are
probably consumed by the 100000 fam
lilies of the state of Minnesota not less
than 100000 pounds of baking powders
annually. OF these at least 80 per cent
are the cheap alum powders. These,
although their first cost is not more
than cents per pound, are sold to the
consumer at an average of about %
cents per pound, and hence represent
an outlay of upwards of 100000 per
annum. OF this amount about 100000
represents the actual first cost, and $780,
600 the eXtOrtionate profits of the maker
and vender of the alum baking powder.
Of the samples of vinegar 66 per cent
were represented to be cider vinegar,
whereas they were not so, but were of
an entirely different and interior char
acter. About the same percentage were
adulterated with water to an extent
of about one-fifth, as based upon the
legal standard of New York and New
Jersey. The value of the spurious
cider vinegar annually sold in the
state of Minnesota, at the usual price Of
about 35 cents per gallon, would be not
less than $3.50. 900, of which $4,000 is
paid for water which is present as an
adrlterant. The lard was adulterated
with cottonseed Oil and with water; the
cream of tartar, which sold at from 40
to 60 cents per pound. was three-quart-
ers tena ALA, flour of alum, and prob
ably cost less than 10 cents per pound;
the mustard was largely flour, coloring
matter and cayenne pepper; the ground
spices were adulterated largely with
wheat, corn and rice meal, ground
olive stones, cocoanut shells, charcoal,
turmeric and various barks, and con-
tanned just enough of the original
spice to justify the name which they
pSdl. holllilldI ISSuitS were UiSDldy6u
with all the other substances included
in the list. The cunning of the skilled
adulterator was everywhere displayed
to his own great profit and the shameful
abuse of the confidence of his customers.
Shall this condition be allowed to con-
tinue, or shall it be repressed? Is it for
the interest of the state of Minnesota or
of its citizens to allow such stupendous
frauds, involving as they do the health
OF the people, and millions of dollars of
their money, to continue unrebuked and
unrestrained? There are ample police
powers vested in the state to immedi-
ately curtail and eventually repress
these noisome practices if enabling acts
are passed by the legislature and a
moderate amount is appropriated for
their energetic enforcement A care
fully drawn bill has been introduced
into the senate which provides for the
placing of a number of the most COM
monty used and notoriously adulterated
food stuffs under the police inspection
of the state dairy commission. This bill
defines their character. establishes their