The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-10
OVER A BILLION
Spent by the People Of the
United States
For the Authorizations They Eat
in Their Food.
LAWS NEEDED BADLY
To Punish the Men Who
Poison Us.

WAsHINGroN, Sept 1O.-The question
of adulteration Of food and drugs IN this
country is discussed in detail in the re-
port Of Special Agent Alex j. Wedder-
Drum, of the agricultural department.
Referring to the fact that the public
ideas Of the adultsration of food are in
many cases very much exaggerated, the
report says "The attention of foreigners
has been drawn to the fact that greater
or less adulteration exists among US.
As result foreign competitors
manufacturers OF food products have
used the fact to their own advantage.
America today occupies the unenvia-
bic position of being one of the very few
countries that fail 10 require by law, the
proper branding Of their manufactured
food and druge- That such require
ments would accomplish the desired re-
suit 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
foreign countries as we'll as of the vari-
Gus states The concurrent testimony of
state officials charged with the enforce
ment Of state and local laws, is that
national law is necessary to secure the
enforcement of state laws.
III il be true that it il impossible for
any state to execute its laws, no matter
package decision stands a law, then the
need Of a federal law is Imperative.
The effort to purge the country Of this
crime is doing good and is keeping down
the adulteratiOn of the products we con-
sumo, 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 this country is adulter-
ated IS proved most cOnclusivelY by a
vast amount OF Information gathered by
the department
The extent of the practice is as broad
as the continent, but their character in
jures the pocket rather than the health
The general character Of food adultera-
tions is principally commercial fraud
and the extent of criminal or poisonous
adulteratiOn in food is 50 limited as to
mense sum Of products consumed
A large proportion Of poisonous adul-
teratiOns arises from carelessness and
ignorance. But ignorance is no excuse
for the wholesale destruction of life by
the addition of poisonous pigments to
many articles Of food and especially con-
fectIOnery, cream and like articles.
1t has been proven that adulteration is
general and Increasing, and no kind of
food in the sugars or liquors is free from
the finishing touches OF manipuIators.
Whether the intent be criminal and
is the same and the people viii continue
TO suffer until the strong hand Of the
federal law steps ia to supplement and
support the action of the states
The extent OF adulteration is fully 10
per cent. os which 2 per cent is injuri-
Gus to health. But to furnish sixty i've
million people with food, drink
and. drugs cost not less than
So, 760, 100000, and it is found that the
amount of adulteratiOn reaches the
immense sum Of $l,O14, 100000 annually.
As at least ? per cent OF the whole is
deleterious to health $135, 100000 cOnsti-
tutes the annual amount paid by Ameri-
can people for sacrifice of their lives or
injury of their health.
AS there exists no more serious or ex-
haustive drain upon the resources of the
people than tho adulteration of their
food and drug products. the federal gov
eminent should enact q law to prevent
the transportation of misbranded, poison
Gus, or deleteriOus foods and drugs from
one state to another, not interfering with
the police powers Of the states
This being done the various state laws
would become effective, and by syste-
matte effort on the part Of officials or
honest dealers and manufacturers, adul-
terations would be reduced to a mini
mum and millions of dollars saved an
nually to the country. The cost of the
execution of such a law would be mod
crate and should be borne by the manu-
facturers of food and drug products.
Tho report embOdies q slarge NUM- Der of
comments upon the subject of officials
and other directly Interested persons
Nearly all the state officials and repre-
sentative tradesmen who give their views
unite IN urging the passage Of a national
food and drug law for the protection of
legitimate industry and pare interstate
and foreign commerce as we'll as the
public health.