Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-03-08
FOOD ADUL7ERA7I0N
The Senate Committee Submits a
Report on Its Investigation.
SUGGESTIONS As TO REGULATION,


committee on manufactures yestef-
day submitted to the senate report
on the extensive investigation II mas
conducted into the allegations that
many important articles OF food ana
drink are aduterated so as TO be
either a serious detriment to the pub
lie health, or. where the aduliefant
is not injurious to health, a 'rand
on the purchaser. Accompanying the
report is u great mass OF testimony
taken in the leading cities OF the
country. The report says the 'mpor-
lance of the investigation made ana
the legislation proposed cannot be
too strongly emphasized; 1T adds
1.-THE aduIteraton of prepared or man
ufactured foods is very extensively
practiced and in many cases TO inc
great dscredit of our manh'ac-
turers. II is only fair to say, now
ever, that n large proportion OF the
American manufacturers who are en-
gagged in aduIterating food products
do so in order to meet compelltloll'
and it is the expression OF those gen
tlemen to say: we would he glad to
get out of the business of adnltera-
ton. We would like to quit putting
this stuff in coffee, and would be VIII
ing to brand our syrups for what they
are, but our competitors get trade
advantage we cannot surrender
ut is the purpose of this committee
to adopt this uniform rule TO pro-
hbit the sale of deleterlous ana I'M
healthy food products, and as to those
food products which are simply
cheapened by adulterants, to compel
the marking of those goods for what
they are. Deeterous food products
should be prohibited and the rest
thoroughly regulated.
"There have been two general ways
suggested as to the matter OF regu-
lation. First, to put the important
food products under the internal rev.
enue law, as we have in the case of
butter, filled cheese and, at the last
congress, -four The pure flour bill
has absolutely prohibited the sale OF
adulterated -four, which was found to
be in many eases dangerous to public
health and has increased the sale OF
American -four probably % per cent,
in other countries. II the rule estab-
lished by this committee can be ear
Tied out as to our other food products
we will not only protect the consumer
and the honest manuiact urer who is
willing to sell his goods for what they
are, but we will also establish a rep
utation for our food products whicl
will assist us to find steady market
for them in other countries.
"rhc other plan to regulate the foot
products is contained in senate Bit
2426, which establishes department
under the secretary Of agricultur,
and provides for the establishment o
board which shall fix the standards
for foods, drinks, and for drugs
based ON the American phnrmacopeia
The strong argument in favor OF thu
plan is the fact that II would be cum
bersome to take all the small articles
of food products that are now adul
terated and allow their sophlStlca
ton or adulteration for the purposes
of cheapenng, and require Il slamI
upon each of the small packages of
fered for sale. TO illustrate: Thu
evidence before the committee show
that all our peppers. cinnamon Glove
ana sprces gencrany i1clnrng g'ngc
and mustard, are adulteratcd. On
manufacturer testified that he adul
terated these largely with cocoanu
shells and that the amount OF adult
terants put in depended upon the MAJ
who ordered IT, Sometimes as high a
60 per cent. was put in II would b
difficult, II may be seen al a glance
to establish law for spices, to CON
pei them to stamp as mixed splc
every package sold, II may be tina
such cumbersome legislation will hay
to be made in order to property pun
ish those who adulteratc their goods
but II is hoped that senate bill s49
will reach interstate traffic in ma,
nfactnred food products, and that til
board established under the bill wi
have power to fix standards base
upon what is now the standard in tn
American pharmacopeia.
After detailed explanation wit
reference TO the testimony and anal,
sis as regards many specific article
OF food or drink and the extent I
which they were found free from @
guilty of adulteration. the committ
takes up the matter of the imporii
ton of adulterated foods and says
"lf it is the policy to restrict OF
citizens to the Use Of pure food, "
certainly should apply he same ri
to foreigners who manufacture goot
to be sold in this country. There is II
doubt in the minds of the commit,
that large amounts of imported goot
are sold in this country, the sale ,
which goods would I've prohibited
the country from which they come
Washington March 1.-The bait
royal over the Puerto Rican tar