Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-10
FOOLED IN OUR FOOD
Everything We Eat and Drink is More
or Less Adulterated.
Interesting Report Of n Special Agent
Showing the Enormous Increase
of NefariOus Practice.

The question of aduiteration Of food and
drugs In this country Is discussed in de-
tall In the report Of Special Agent Alex
ander j. Wedderburn of the Agricultural
Department. After referring to the fact
that the public ideas of adulteration of
food are In many cases very much exag-
gerated, the report states that the atten-
ton of foreigners has been drawn to the
fact that greater or less adulteratioh ex-
lists among us. and that as a result for
eign competitors of our manufacturers of
food products have used the fact to their
own advantage.
America today occupies the unenviable
position Of being one Of the very few coun-
tries that fail to require by law the proper
branding of their manufactured food and
drugs" says the report. Whether such
requirements would accomplish the de-
sired result is unknown. but the evil would
be mitigated by wholesome legislation.
This belief is sustained by the results Of
the food laws of England and other for
eign countries. well of the various
states. The concurrent testimony Of state
officials. charged with the enforcement Of
state and local laws, Is that a national
law Is necessary to secure proper enforce
ment Of state laws. .
Imperative Need of Laws.
IF 1t he true that 1t is impossible for
any state to fully execute its laws, no
matter how stringent, go lorg as the orig
ir al package decision stands as law, then
the need Of a federal law Is imperative
The effort to purge the country of this
crime is doing good and aids in keeping
down the adulteration of the products We
consume. but each year brings to light
new articles in which a method to improve
the profit. If not their quality, has been
found. That almost every article of food
and drug used in our country Is adulterated
Is proved most conclusively by a vast
amount Of Information gathered by the de-
partment."
The extent of the practice Is said to be
as broad as the continent. but their char
acter Injuries the pocket rather than the
health. The general character of food
authorizations is principally commercial
fraud and the extent of criminal or poison
Gus adulteration In food Is SO limited as to
amount TO but a bagatelle in the immense
sum of the products CONSUMED. A large
proportion Of poisonous adulterations arises
from carelessness and ignorance. But ig-
norance is no excuse for the wholesale de-
struction of life by the addition of poison
Gus pigments to many articles Of food. es-
pecially confectionery. cream and like ar
ticles.
Everything is Adulterated.
1t has been proved that adulteration is
general and increasing. and that no kind Of
food. drugs or liquors Is free from the fin-
ishins touches Of the manipulators. Whether
the intent be criminal and vicious or simply
fraudulent. the result Is the same, and the
people will continue to suffer until the
strong hand Of federal law steps IN to sup
plement and support the action Of the
states.
THE extent Of adulteration is fully Is per
cent. Of which per cent is of a character
Injurious to health" says Mr. wedderburn
But to furnish 65OO0.O0O people with food,
drink and drugs costs not less than 50, go, :
OOO.OOO. and 1t Is found that the amount Of
adulteration reaches the immense sum Of
S.Ol4.OOO.OO annually. AS at least per
cent of the whole Is deletcrious to health
13o.GO,OOO constitutes the annual amount
paid by the American people for sacrifice of
their lives or injury Of their health. As
there exists no more serious or exhaustive
drain upon the resources of the people than
the adulteration of their food and drug
products. the federal government should
enact a law to prevent the transportation
Of misbranded, poisonous or deleterious
food and drug products from one state or
territory into another, not interfering with
the police powers of the states. This being
done. the various state laws would become
effective. and by systematic effort on the
part of officials or honest dealers and man.
ufacturers adulterations would be reduced
to a minimum and millions of dollars saved
annually 10 tne country. Inc cost Oh exc
cution of such law would be moderate,
and should be borne by the manufacturers
of food and drug products"
The report embodies q large number Of
comments on the subject by officials and
others directly interested. Nearly all the
state officials and representative trades
men who give their views unite in urging
the passage Of national food and drug
law for the protection of legitimate indus
try and our interstate and foreign COM
merce, as well as the. public health.