Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1901-08-15
BACTERIA IN COFFEE.
Ohio Grocer Convicted of Violating
the Pare Food Laws of
the state.

|
found James White, a local grocer,
guilty of selling Adulterated coffee.
The prosecution was based on a
package of Arbuckles' Ariosa coffee.
The State of Ohio, through the
Pure Food Commission, prosecuted
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 short consultation, a yer-
dict of guilty was returned by the
jury. The State of Ohio considers
this big victory. Pure Food Com
missioner Blackburn has been wag-
ing a warfare on spurious food arti-
! Giles and the department has been
very successful.
The complaint OF the State Of Ohio
was that Ariosa coffee was coated
with a substance which concealed de-
fccts in the coffee and made it APP
pear better than it is. The State
charged that this coating or glazing
was a favorable medium for the
propagation of bacteria.
Prof &. 4. Kirchmaier, of this city,
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.. Kirchmaier further testified that
other coffces ne examined contained
| few bacteria or none at all. He de-
clarcd that the glazed coffee was not
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 cot
fee. secured some of the most emf
nent chemists and scientists in the
United States to give testimony in
| their behalf. Prof. II. w. Wiley, OF
the United States Agricultural De-
partment; Prof. Vaughn, of Ann Ar
| Dor University; Profs. Belle and
! Wcbber. of the Ohio State University
were called to defend Ariosa. DR.
Wiley had made a careful examine
! ton Of the method of manufacturing
| Ariosa. He told of the l0,0O0.O0C
eggs used by the Arbuckles 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 time.
The experts who heard DIR. Wiley's
! testimony were pleased TO be able
| to "cdtch" so famous a chemist. The
! doctor at one point in his Testimony
explained very cicirly how it is that
the egg put into the coffee pot by
the housewife settles the coffee. lie
said that the heat coagulates the
egg, and as it sinks TO the bottom OF
| the pot it carries the fine particles
of the coffee with it, and thus clari.
| fies the drink. 1t is the act OF
coagulation in the coffee pot that
does the work. Later on in his cross
examination, ne had to admit tina:
when the egg was put on Ariosa cot
fee at the factory, it became coagu-
lated, and as egg cannot be coagu'
lated but once, that the coating on
coffee was of practically no value as
Settler" when it reached the cof-
fee pot.
Prof. Wiley acknowledged that the
| glazing might be a favorable medium
for the propagation of bacteria, al
| though be would not testify positive
~ either way because he was not a
bacteriolOgist.
Prof. Vaughn, of Ann Arbor Uni
versity, also witness for the Ar
| buckles, said he found bacteria on
Ariosa coffee.
Prof. Belle, another witness for
the defense, found any number OF
lively bacteria on the Ariosa coffee
he examined, and he agreed that
glazed coffee surely was a more
| favorable medium for the propaga.
ton of bacteria than unglazed cot
fee.
The verdict of the jury in this case
Is of national Importance because a
great many other states have Pure
Food Laws like that of Ohio, and il
is natural to suppose that similar ac-
ton will be taken by other Pure
Food Commissioners to prevent the
sale Of glazed coffees.
Pure Food Commissioner Black.
burn says: The State is very much
elated over its victory against this
big corporation. We are now con-
sidering the advisability of inform
ing every grocer in the State of Ohio
that it is an infraction of the laws to
sell Ariosa, and at the same time
give warning to consumers that the
coffee is an adulterated food article"
Mrs. Chips-This horseless carriage
Is bound to be success.
Mrs. Bare-What makes you think
so?