The San Francisco call., 1897-07-18
FOOD ADULTERANTS.

In his lecture at The Wright Summer
School Of Economics and Husbandry on
Friday last, Professor NJ. L. Jaffa of the
State University made several important
and very interesting statements with rel
erence to food adulterations. He divided
the latter into two main classes, one harm
fu! and poisonous. the other harmless but
deceptive. The harmful adulterants were
shown to be all the more dangerous be-
cause tasteless and they are only dis
closed by analysis.
They are chiefly antiseptics," said the
lecturer, "being generally used as preser-
vatives, killing bacteria and preventing
molds." In all the digestive juices, how
ever, are ierments which assist in the
process of digestion, and these are killed
by the ontiseptics and the digestive pro-
cess is thus arrested. They are Of course
especially dangerous for ;nvalids and per-
sons of weak digestion"
In the cities it appears that there Is
strong demand by purchasers of dried
fruit for that which he's the light, bleached
color. This dried fruit has been sui
rhured to give it that popular color, and
the dangerous sulphurous acid is presen,
uncolored or unbleached fruit b, bought
in preference to the bleached. Farmers
keep out the uncolored dried fruit for
their own use, but their dried fruit must
be bleached, they find, to sell with profit
in the big markets. The popular notion
seems to be that light -coIored fruit is
cleaner and more nealthful. and light fruit
will sell readily at higher prices than the
uncolored product, which has been pre-
p; red with equal care, but without the
use OF sulphur. The minds of the dwell
ers in cities should be disabused of this
false idea. The truit-growers, it would
seem, are simply compelled to bleach cer-
tain dried fruits in order that they NAV
secure market and the coloring is done
in RESPONSE to positive demand, not to
consider which would be ruinous to their
interests. A pleasing appearance is al
ways rather tempting bai. but appear
ances are often deceptive, in dried fruit as
we'll as in other things
Professor Jaffa lays down as good
principle to observe that, no element
should be introd uced into the system that
is not naturally found there, and the
septics most com m only used-salicylic
acid, sulphurous acid, boracic acid and
iormalin or calerin-''are not found there
unless introduced by the ignorance or
dishonesty of man."
Among what are termed "harmless
adullerants" are placed those which are
used in oleomargarine and filled cheese.
People want to know what they are pur-
chasing however, and while no harm can
come from the manufacture and use of
these products, the failure to comply with
the legal restrictions regarding their sale
is fraud on buyers and honest producers,
and any infringement OF the law should,
upon discovery, be followed by prom pit
punishment of the offender.
Some very com mendabe work has thu.
far been done in the enforcement of the
pure food laws of this State, but merely
beginning has been made. There is no
excuse for wholesale adulterations in
canned goods in the scientists declara-
ton that "the cause OF any trouble which
may arise from the use OF canned goods is
in the way they are put UP and not in
adulterations." When people call for a
certain kind of fruit jelly they don't want
to be given a compound prepared from a
its label. Honest goods with honest
abels are what the people want. and
what the law contemplates they shall have
when they make purchases.
The approaching pure.iood exhibit of
the Mechanics Institute will be of great
assistance in the endeavor to ultimately
drive out of the market all dele;erious and
i'm pure foods. and all libels upon food
substances, whether such libels be harm
less or injurious to health. The battle
for pure foods cannot be too vigorously
prosecuted.