Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-01
GERMAN DISCRIMINATION
Attempts to Discourage Consumption of
American Meat Products
Result of IN investigation of Illness
From Trichinae During the
Past Fifteen Years.

Consul Barnes at Cologne has made an
interesting report TO the State Department
of the constant and studied discrimination
against American meats in Germany.
Through the medium of g. society of
German foreign meat importers, whose OBJ
ject is the protection and promotion of the
German trade in meats and fat products"
he says, Il learn that for the last fifteen
years beginning with the decree of 1888
prohibiting the Importation of American
meat, and ending with the close of last
year, there Were officially confirmed in the
kingdom Of Prussia 1908 reported cases of
Illness from trichiBae, 207 of which resulted
IN death or these total numbers there
could be traced to the eating of European
meat examined in Germany and found to
be free from trichinae, 1.2l2 cases of illness
ana To- deaths. Thus 41.35 per cent of all
the cases Of Illness and 49.T per cent of I'll
the deaths were caused by the consumption
of European pork, which was examined in
Germ any and found to be free from trich-
mae. The remaining cases could also be
traced to imDoTtations of European meat
partly examined and partly not examined
and founu to contain trfchinae, and yet
handled by the trade.
Not Ono Due to American Meat.
I'm not one of the above 1903 cases could
it be proved that the illness was caused by
the use of american sa.ted, picked, or tin
ned meat, nor by smoked sausage Imported
under imperial decree of September 8, 1s9D
This statement holds good for all Germany.
In confirmation of this fact the society
heTeinbefore mentioned has issued posters
offered to the person who can prove that
trichinae have been transferred to human
Beings by the consumption of American
sailed or picked pork or smoked sausage
Imported under the immortal decree nj Sap
TENDER ), 1891, canceling the sdict forbid
ding the importation.
Rigid Inspection.
The inspection of American meats and
sausages is much more rigid than the tests
for the German home products. The Amer
lean product is twice inspected. Before the
meat leaves the United States, | am in
formed that from each hog. 4 whole, the
INSPECTOR selects six samples or pieces, and
from these pieces are taken eighteen cuts,
tc winch is applied the mcroScOpicl test.
W hen this neat teaches Germany 1t is
again cut into eight or ten pieces: from
each oil these the inspector selects three
samples or pieces and from each of these
samples or pieces three are taken for
the micToscopicdi test. This results in
the inspection Of ninety separate pieces
ironl TIE American hog, while in the in
spectlon OF TIE German hog only eighteen
pieces are tested. By this mode of inspec-
zion II can be readily seen that opportuI.i-
ties OF discovering ten cases of trichinae
are available i'll the inspection of an Amer
lean hos, as against Two chances in the
case u the German hog. When inspected,
the German hog IS divided into two pieces
Un4y, beng .evcred ItngthwiSe, from the
mead Gown the back, thus leaving the head
SIM attached to both of the divided parts
.. the bJIy.
As regards the inspection of American
sausage l learn that in this district
,ColGsne) three pieces are taken for in
: lion mr.
ported sausage. Even if no trichinae are
discovered after this rigid Inspection the
SGusage Is much injured, ii not entirely
rulned. for selling purposes, inasnuch as
THIS process rot only has = tendency TO
cause the meat to become dry ana hard.
but II bears plain evidences of having been
subjected to an inspection, which is not a
very hattering testimonial as to its worth
or desirabiiity as food. On the other nand
German sausage is subjected to no such
examination, since the meat is inspected
as nereiEbefore stated, thereby escaping
the rigid and damaging process followed in
the German inspection of the american
So usage
VIII Result in Exclusion.
wv hen, in 1891, the edict against sausage
and pork products from America was can
coed, no inspection of sausage or picked
pork was required until July l. 1898. Since
then, both products are subjected to in
spection. This will result in the absolute
e1 clusion OF sausage and ;,ickled pork or
bonei-ss hams from the German market
In the case of homeless hams, weighing
from two to three pounds each, the cost of
inspecting amounts TO 10 pfennigs per kiio-
gram, or 10 marks (s3.5O per 100 kilograms
of DO English pounds. Add to this the
duty OF 20 marks, and We have total cost
of 70 marks, OF $S.33 on 10 pounds of
meat which virtually means the prohibit
ton of such products.
Warnings Against American Meats
"Othar expedients also appear to be re-
sorted 20 by seIf-constituted authorities in
order to discourage and prevent the large
consumption of American meats. There is
row pending before the court at Elberfeld,
a town near Cologne, a suit relating to
case of meat from America which was
packed in boraX. 1t seems that the munich
pahty of Cologne issued, through the daily
papers, a notice or warning to dealers that
such meats should not be handled or sold
by them, alleging its use to BE- detrimental
to the health of the consumer. Any citizen
is permitted, under this order, to file a
complaint regarding tbs lind of meat. AS
n consequence, when Inc burgermeister
(nayo) issues his edicy or warning. the
dealers in meats are P raid to handle or
sell the prohibited products. And this is
done ir spite of the fact that the emperor
alone has the power TO prescribe the man
ner of packing or preparing human food.
The burgermeister of Solingen has eX-
ercised the same power as claimed by the
burgermeister OF Cologne, by indorsing and
repeating this edict or warning in his dis
trict against the use Ct boraXed meats, and
this action has resulted in bringing the
case TO the attention of the court of Elber-
field. The society for the protection of Ger
man trade and industry IN foreign meats
and fat products is coatesting this ques-
ton and expects to be able to prove by dis
tinguishad German professors that the use
of borax for packing meats is not injurious
to human life.
Il am likewise informed that uninspect-
ed American hog products have been in
tToduCed into Germany from Belgium, in
boxes in which other regularly inspected
meats had been received from America,
bearing the label of microscopic fnspec-
ticn.'
.PasSing of a Hero"