New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-26
PURE FOOD LEGISLATION.
ErArE AND NATIONAL CONTROL OF THE
SUBJECT.
EXISTING AND PROPOSED sTATUTEs-BEEf' WINE
AND DRUGS ALSO UNDER REGULATION
ACTIVITY OF THE CITY AuTHoRi-
TIEs-wHERE THE oBJEC-
TIoNs COME FROM

TIEs-wHERE THE oBJEc-
T1oNs COME FROM.
Whatever be the outcome Of the "emoamed
Noor. scandal and however much occasion
Americans may have to blush over any possible
,ave,a.ions Of cupidity and deception in the
5eeding Of soldiers in the recent war. the agita-
,,on OF the subject cannot fail 10 work great
good Those who are in position TO kno" 'he
facts are we'll aware that an immense amount
Of adulterated food drink and medicine IS sou
IN this country. Some OF the adulteraton Is
practically harmless. and some of 1t Ia likely 10
sn,ure the health OF the people who consume
the stuff
Where sickness or death is the natural result
of any Of these frauds the strongest possioie
reasons exist for Furnishing the perpetrators
And even when the admiXture of harmless SUD
stances is INDUCED in the buyer is cheated be-
cause he does not get the full strength OF the
article ne procures.
ru, tho individual purchaser is helpless in
this matter II he complains TO his milkman
she blame is thrown back on the railway hands
or the rural shipper. who cannot eash! oe
identifed-at least by the city customer VINO
buys milk by the quart. And so with oieornai-
garine filled cheese pepper that IS nan OF Hoie
than half husks, chocolate which Is largely
starch. drugs which fail to produce the expect
ed effect because of impurity. canned fruits ana
vegetables 10 which chemicals have been added
10 keep them from spelling, meats Similar!
treated or otherwise unwholesome and soda
waters beer and wine 20 which there nave oeeh
accidental or intentional additions Of deleterious
materials.
Injurious effects are often produced. the causes
of which cannot be determined with certainty
For these and other reasons it is imperatveiy
necessary that the Government shall interpose
IN behalf Of the people. In the first place WISE
appropriate and comprehensive enactments are
REQUIRED. and then incorruptibe. Vlgilant anu
Intelligent agents for the execution or the III"
are needed. This responsibility has already oeeh
assumed by State and local Boards Of Health
In this city. for instance an elaborate sanitary
eode has been formulated, and It is enforced
with commendable vigor. There are specihc
clauses relating to milk. meats. fish. fowls ana
other unwholesOme foods and drinks and there
Is a sweeping section which gives the Board the
mower TO act whenever II has evidence that
INV person is doing things dangerous to the
life. or detrimental 10 the health Of any human
heing" Last year over 100000 pounds Of
bob veal were seized on the way into the
city: sGO963 pounds Of other meat were also
taken away from the dealers as well as l,23o'-
S94 pounds Of fish and 1859 pounds Of fruit.
No end of milk was poured out into the river
or sewers inspectors visited numerous baker
,es and confectionery establishments TO see that
rroper utensils were used in preparing foods
and candies The soda water bOttlers were COM
PEELED to show the condition Of their faucets
And large quantities of canned fruits. vegeta-
HES and meats were bought from dealers and
examined.
Three general laws Of the State Of New York
relate to foods The Domestic Commerce law
does not touch the matter Of adulteration, di-
rectly or thoroughly, but it prescrbes that no
hacker Of or dealer in canned goods shall put
them on the market without labelling them
that the manufacturer be identified. or with
out designating the grade or quality Of the
article
In the Agricultural law what constitutes i'm
pure milk cream butter cheese and vinegar is
distinctly indicated. their sale is prohibited, pro-
vision is made for the detection OF dairy products
which are sold contrary TO law. and penalties
are provided for violations Of the law This
measure is limited in scope. but stringent in
character And IL is believed that II is pretty
well enforced.
Finally there is the Public Health law, when
creates a State Board OF Health, gives to. 1t
annie powers for the investigation Of food,
drugs. beers and wines. and authorizes II 70
prosecute offenders 1t instructs the Board to
all producers and to analyze the same Pure
wine and beer are carefully defined. The addi-
,,o, of cane sugar or glucose TO maple sugar.
manic svrup or honey is forbidden. The sale OF
tee from the canals unless distinctly marked
"canal ice" is prohibited. The sale or exposure
for sale Of spoiled tainted food Is maze
punishable act. There is a clear statement u
-. constitutes an adulterated drug. The re-
naming provisions Of the law are as follows;
No person shall within the State manufacture.
produce compound. brew, dlst' nav, 80" 20
Tor for sale any adulterated food or drug An
article shall be deemed 10 De ''i''NN '
the meaning Of this act: -.
~ II anv substance or substances has or nave
boen roixed with IT, so as TO reduce or lower OF
iniuriousy affect its quality or strength
~ If any inferior cheaper substance or
substances have been substituted wholly or III
part for the article. ,,
n, II any valuable constituent of the article
has been wholly or IN part abstracted' -.
az II it be an imitation or be sold under the
name OF another article A.,
eased or decomposed or putrid or rotten animal
or vegetable substance whether mahuiactuieu
or not or in the case OF milk II IL - the plouuce
of a diseased animal
(6) II II be colored. coated, or polished
or powdered whereby damage is concealed OF y
is made to appear better thah IL iedHS 10 Vi vi
a. II It contains any added poisonous in
eredient or any ingredient which may render
such an article injurious TO the health or me
person consuming II. Provided. thatrn article
OF food which does not contain any lngredleh'
Injurious 10 health shall not be deemed 10 have
been adulterated, In the case or mixtures Oh
compounds which may he now, or from tme &c
time hereafter. known as articles or fpOd undei
their own distinctive names or which shall DC
so labelled as TO plainly indicate that they are
mixtures combinations. compounds or blends
and not included in Section of this definition
In the case Of spurious. fermented or mall
LIQUORS If II contain any substance or ingredient
moi normal or healthful to exist in spirtuous
fermented or malt liquors, or which may be del
eterious or detrimental to health when sucf
LIQUORS are used beverage In the case o.
ale or beer IL II contain any substitute fo
hons or pure extract Of hops. or II any such SUD
stitute is used in the manufacture thereof
(D) In the case Of confectionery. II ii contain
N. a niher mineral sub