The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-08-15
PURE FOOD
LAW VIOLATED.
Interesting Facts Concerning the Roasting
O. Coffee Brought Out by Scientific
l.xperts-Presence of Bacteria.

found JameS White. 4 local grocer,
guilty of selling adulterated coffee.
The prosecution was based on pack
2%e OF hrioSa coffee.
The State OF Ohio. through the Pure
Iood Commission, prosecuted White.
The case was on trial for nearly 4
month, and attracted national atten-
ton
The n,anufa ctu-ers of Ariosa coffee
conducted the defense for Grocer
White. Attorneys Of emincnce
were retained to defend him.
but after Il short consultation a verdict
OF guilty was returned by the jury.
The State OF Ohio considers this big
victory. Pure Food Commissioner
Blackburn has been wagng 4 warfare
on spurious food articles and the de-
partmcnt has been successful.
Tie complaint OF the State Of Ohio
was that ArioSa coffee was coated with
q substance which concealed defects
ii the coffee and made it appear better
than il is. The State charged this coat
for the propagation of bacteria.
Prof C. \. l[irchmaier. of this city,
n well known chemist. was the priG-
ciDal witness for the State. He tes-
ticed that Lc had made scientific ex-
amirat:ons OF samples of Ar!osa
purchased from Grocer White in
tie omen market. and found that
each berry contained an average
OF 500 bacteria. Mr.. Kirchmaier
further testified that other cof-
fees lie examined contained few bac-
terra or none at all. He declared that
the glazed coGec was not wholesome
food product.
Chemist Schmidt, OF Cincinnati. cor
robo:atcd tie testimony of Prof.
i.irchmaier. The State die net present
Nrthcc testimony.
Tie defense secured some Of
the most eminent chemists and
scientists in the United States
TO give testimony in their behalf. Prof.
II. ". Wiley, OF the United States
Agricultural Department.; Prof.
Vaughn. Of Ann Arbor University;
Pros. Belle and Webbcr, Of the Ohio
STATE University, were called TO de-
fend .ArioSa. Dr.. Wiley made care
full examination Of the method Of man.
urSc.uring. He told of the 49,
CO0.090 eggs used yearly in the prepar-
atioa Of this glazing. On this point,
il cr0SS-ex&minat!on. tie States at
tc1Gcy deity drew from him the in
formation that these eggs might be
Kept in cold storage fer year or two
at 4 time.
The experts who heard Dr.. Wiley's
testimony were pleased to listen
to so famous chemist. The
Coc;ar at one point il his testimony
explained re:y clearly how it is that
The c"g put into the coffee pot by
!he housewife settles the coffee. He
said that the heat coagulates the egg,
and as it sinks TO the bottom Of the
Dot it carries the fine particles Of
coffee with it, and thus clarifies the
drink. 1t is the act Of coagulation in
the coffee pot that does the work.
Later Oil in his cross examination, he
admitted that when tie egg was
put on Ariosa coffee at the factory II
became cOagulated, and as egg cannot
be coagulated but once. that the coat
inG on coffee was practically no value.
as Z settler" when it reached tie
coffee pot.
Professor Wiley acknowledged that
the glazing might be q favorable
medium for the propagation Of bac-
terra, although he would not testify
positively either way because he was
not bacteriologist.
Professor Vaughn, Of Ann Arbor.
also 4 witness for the defense, said
he found bacteria on Ariosa coffee.
Professor Bleile. another witness for
the defense, testified lie found any
number OF lively bacteria on Ariosa
coffee. he examined, and agreed that
glazed coffee surely was more favor
able medium for the propagation Of
bacteria than unyiazed coffee.
Pure Food Commissioner Blackburn
says: The State is very much elated
over its victory. We are now consider
ing the adviSability Of informing every
grocer in the State of Ohio that it is
IN infractio1 Of the laws 10 sell
ArioSa. and 1T the same time give
warning to consumers that the coffee
is an adulterated food article.
The verdict of the jury in this case
Is OF national Importance because n
great many Olucr States have pure
food laws like HAT OF Ohio, and it
is natural 10 suppose that similar ac-
ton will be taken by other Pure Food
Commissioners 10 prevent the sale of
~,1o