Fair play., 1901-08-03
BACTERIA IN COFFEE.
Ohio Grocer Convicted OF Violating
the Pure Food Laws of
the State.

White. The case was on trial for
nearly a month and attracted nation-
al attention.
The manufacturers of AriOsa coffee
conducted the defense for Grocer
White. The best attorneys in the
country were retained to defend him
but, after a short consultation, n YER
diet of guilty was returned by the
jury. The State of Ohio considers
this a big victory. Pure Food Conn
missioner Blackburn has been wag-
ing warfare on spurious food arti-
cles and the department has been
very successful.
The complaint of the State of Ohio
was that Ariosa coffee was coated
with n substance which concealed de-
fectS in the coffee and mace it ap-
pear better than it is. The State
charged that this coating or glazing
was a favorable medium for the
propa CATION of bacteria.
Trof. &. A. Kirchmaier. of this city,
a well-knOwn chemist, was the prin-
cipal witness for the State. He had
made scientific examinations of SAM
pies of AriOsa purchased in the open
market from Grocer White. He
found that each Ariosa berry con-
tanned an average of 300 bacteria.
Mr.. Kirchmaicr further testified that
other coffces he examined contained
few bacteria or none at all. He de-
clared that the glazed coffee was not
n wholesome food product.
Chemist Schmidt, of Cincinnati.
corroborated the testimony of Prof.
Kirchmaier. The State did not pre-
sent further testimony.
The defense. through The Ar
buckles. who prepare this glazed c"f-
fee. secured some of the most emf
United States to give testimony in
their behalf. Prof. II. W. Wiley. of
the United States Agricultural De-
part mcnt: Prof. Vaughn. of Ann Ar
Dor University; Profs. Elcile and
Wcbtrr. of the Ohio State University,
were called to defend hriosa. DR..
Wiley had made careful cNamina-
ton of the method of manufacturing
Ariosa. lie told of the I9.030.o0o
eggs used by the Arhuckles yearly
in the preparation of this glazing.
On this point in cross examination,
the States attorneys deftly drew
from him The information that these
eggs might BE- kept in cold storage
by the Arbuckles for year or two
at a time.
The experts who heard DR.. Wiley's
testimony were pleased 10 he able
to catch" so famous a chemist. The
doctor at one point in his testimony
explained very clearl" how il is that
the egg put into the coffee po. by
the housewife settles the coffee. He
said that he heat coaTulatcS the
e~~. ami as it sinks to the bottom OF
the pot il carries the fine PARTICLES
of the coffee with it. and thus clari-
iicS The drink. l. is the act OF
cOa "tiiation in the coffee pot that
doe, the work. Later ON in his cross
exa mination. he had 10 a INIT tha.
when the egg was put on iriosa cof-
fee at the factory. it became coaeu-
lated, and aS egg cannot be coagu-
lated but once. that the coating on
coffee was of practically no value as
a settler" when i, reached the cof-
fee pot.
Prof. Wiley acknowledged that the
glazing might bc favorable medium
for the propagation of bacteria, al
though be would not testify positive
ly either way because he was not q
Prof. Vaughn. of Ann Arbor Uni-
vcrsity. also n witness for the Ar
buckles, said he found bacteria on
Ariosa coffee.
Prof. Blcilc. another witness for
the defense. found any number If
lively bacteria on the Ariosa coffee
he examined, and he agreed that
glazed coffee surely was a more
fayor; bic medium for the propaga-
I ion Of bacteria than unglazcd ccf-
fee.
The verdict of the jury in his ease
Is of national Importance because Il
Food Laws like that of Ohio. and it
is natural Ia suppose that similar ac-
ton will be taken by other Pure
Food Commissioners to prevent the
sale of glazed coffc"s.
Pure Food Commissioner I:lack- |
burn says: ''Thc State is very much |
rlatcd over its victory against This |
bi" corporation. We are now con- |
the advisahility of inform |
Ing every grocer in the State of Ohio |
that il is an infraction of the laws to |
sell Ariosa. and "a; the same time |
give warning to consumers that the |
coffee is an adulterated food article"
The prettiest little money or |
jewel bags are small, about the size |
Of a rather large change purse, in silk |
On the outside, pale blue or pink, with