The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-30
FOOD ADULTERaTIoNs IN ENGLAND

II OWkVER varied and extensive may be the
| authorizations brought to light by the investipa-
tons OF the Pure Food Committee OF the Sen
ate IS not likely the disclosures will show anything
worse IN this country than what has been re-
veaed in Great Britain. In fact the use OF chemicals
to give good appearance to decayed meats and vege
tables is about wide civilization itself Were the
press OF Continental Europe as free in its structures
as is that OF the United States and Great Britain we
should doubtless learn that the manufacture of i'm
pure foods IS as common there as with US though
such articles are not so openly exposed for sale ow
ing to the sriCtness OF the governmental insDection
The London Lancet in discussing the manufacture
and sale OF impure foods in England recently pointed
out that revelations made in certain cases which have
been before the public during the last wear disclose
that animal substances were actually about 70 b ~
pioyed IN making meat extracts in which the putre
fact1ve process has made fair start and went on 70
say: VI course cooking would destroy most noxious
germs, but their products, the poisonous ptomaines
would remain. Indeed, if the poisonous ptor,ainec
were elaborated, they would be difficult to DESTROY
1t IS recognized in Great Britain as here that the
manufacture of food out Of such stuff works tho
greater injury to the public nasmuch as tends nv
reason OF its cheapness to drive pure foods ont of the
market Thus, If anything like free field be left for
the dishonest manufacturer to compete with the hon
est producer OF good and wholesome articles the adj
Yantages OF the competition will be altogether on III.
side of the adulterator
1t is said that the exposure of the embalmed beef
scandals in this country injured the entire meat
packing trade and that the innocent suffered with tho
guilty. That, OF course, is an evil which every one
regrets. Fortunately, it is likely to be of but short
duration. In the end it will rebound to the benefit
OF honest dealers and manufacturers to have the solo
OF impure foods prevented by reason OF the exposure
Of the wrong.
From the experience OF Great Britain if ann.,rs
there will be required most stringent inspection and
supervision to suppress the niquitous business The
Lancet says: "a system of control should be estab
lished by the State, and imported extracts
and extracts made at home should be ex
amined chemically and bacteriologically from
time to time, while a very vigorous watch
should be maintained the disposal OF ofaI and all
such nastlness In any case. the conviction OF a
man wicked enough to attempt to retail meat ex-
tract for public consumption which he knew had been
prepared from putrid substances the punishment
should be made to fit the crime"
We can hardly expect comprehensive national in
specton IN this country, but it is reasonable TO hone
for something at least in the way of legislation to
check the aduteration OF food 1t is believed that
law requiring all packages of food to be labeled
recty as to the nature of the article the place and
date of packing with the name of the hackers would
put an end to of the worst features Of the
tee, and such an act ought to be provided nv Con
gress at the coming session