The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-05-24
THE PURE FOOD INQUIRY.
Startling Testimony Heard by the
Senatorial Committee in Chicago.
Kow Many Of Our Food Products Are
sAdulterated by the Use OF Chemicals
and In other Ways.

CHICAGO, III. (SpeciaD-.The Senatorial
Pure Food Investigating Committee has
heard some startling testimony in regard
to the adulteration OF food products which
may prolong its session considerably. Pro-
fessor A. S. Mitchell, chief chemist OF the
Wisconsin Dairy and Food Commission.
made the sworn statement that nearly
every butcher in Illinois used preserving
liquids on scraps OF meat which they lald
aside for the manufacture OF hamburger
steaks and other alleged delicacies.
The chemist first told OF his test OF
liquid known us "freezine." Professor
Mitchell said that the stuff had been used
extensively by farmers to keep milk and
butter, it being the custom to mix It WITH
the former in small quantities and pour
quarts of 1t into watts for the preservation
OF butter.
This 'freezine' have found to be moth
ing less than almost pure formic aldehyae,
narrated the expert. "This is chemical
that acts disastrously upon the tissue OF
the stomach, and can only surmise the
results wren milk diluted with it Ia used
constantly by a family. Where butter IS
placed in watts filled with this stuff the por-
Gus commodity takes up no small amount
OF the liquid with result that can only be
conjectured."
The professor proceeded to tell OF his OK
perlments with fluid sold extensively to
butchers for the purpose OF making their
hamburger steaks lass and Keep up
healthy appearance.
This LIQUID contains in great percentage
what is known as sulphlde Of soda, with a
complement Of coloring matter" be con
tinued. "It Is styled an antiseptte, and In
certain respects is. 1t must be borne IN
mind, however, that where fermentation
and waste are arrested the digestive prop.
critics are consequently destroyed
DR.. Wiley, the Government expert who
examined the antiseptic without going on
the stand, said he identified 1t as practical.
ly the same chemical which was used dur
ing his experience at medical college tc
preserve cadavers, and was now occasion.
ally put to service in disinfecttng houses
where smallpox patients resided.
The common basis for the majority OF
jellies manufactured nowadays, according
to several witnesses, are the cores and
parings Of apples, utilized after they have
been evaporated. This substance. it was
claimed. Is mixed with glucose in large
quantities, with sugar in small quantities,
and then colored and Favored to suit the
outside design on the package.
Fear Of social degradation, according to
William Broadwell, keeps many million.
aire Of Chicago from acknowledging the
fact that he uses oleomargarine in place OF
pure butter. Not only do the very best
people of this city buy this cheaper grade
OF "butter," he said, and would take not b.
ing else in place Of it, but they are the
ones who are the first to whisper to the
dealer for reduction in the price.
Mr.. Broadwell was called before the
committee with several others to explain
why the internal revenue law regulating
the stamping OF all packages OF oleomar.
garine were not enforced.
A. Heller. Of Chicago, a manufacturer OF
"Freezine" and "Rosaline," preservattves
used by buttermakers, declared that those
articles were not injurious to health and
gave the formula OF aking them secret
ly, as he did not wish the secrets OF the
trade made public by the newspapers.
Several witnesses testified that many
frauds were practised by dealers in put
tertne," who sold tho article as genuins
butter