The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-02-08
J. THE PURE FOOD CRUSADE.

rbo Advertiser called attention some
,,,onths ago to the need of greatersspe-
cific implicitly for offenders against the
n,ra food laws. At the next meeunS
of the Board of Health the subject was
taken no and Mr.. Shorey, the Food
Commissioner, was directed to frame
his reports so as to include the names
If dealers in articles of food or medl-
cine which, on analysis, show proofs OF
adulteration.
In his January report, printed yester-
day. the fullest publicity is given 10
Offenders as we'll as to offenses. we
find the names of three vendors OF I'M
pure milk-M. Pecheco, M. Cabral ano'
as might be supposed, the Star Dairy.
In the case of the latter ten per cent
Infusion of water is shown, which Is an
lfynproyement of five per cent since the
I.omba exposure Mr.. Shorey reports
Iother cases of milk adulteration by
narties unknown, showing how mucn
remains to be done, in the way OF
sha-p examples in court, to stop TINS
most prevalent and injurious of local
food frauds.
Grocery and Drug firms of undoubted
renute find themselves on Mr. Shorey
list. but it is by no means certain that
they are individually to blame for all
/ the offenses charged. When a local
dealer buys canned or bottled foods or
drugs on the Coast and pays standard
price. he has a right to expect stand
ard goods. He cannot open every BOT
tile every Theoretically sealed can, and
make a chemical analysis. Mr.. Shorey
does not say whether the drugs found
deficient were imported or made mere
but as he recommends no prosecutor
we assume that they were imported, IN
which case the burden of blame rams
on the manufacturer. Publicity Tor the
dealer. however, cannot, in justice u
the consumer be withheld. One result
of if must be to compel the retail mer-
lchant to hold the wholesale merchant
fseyerely to account and to place M
further orders elsewhere.
That cream sold in groceries IS KEEP
sweet beyond it's wont by the use o
, preservatives has long been an open Sc
cret. Mr.. Shorey thinks the infusion O
, certain drugs can do no harm to
+ healthy adult but that it Nigh. be in
furious to a child. Now that the fact
: have been given to consumers TN
, remedy lies in their hands.
/, One conclusion that must be reache
= from some of the facts presented o
: Mr.. Shorey is that national pure 100
+ law. thorough in it's methods and dras
e tic in it's penalties, has become neces
q sity. At San Francisco and every othe
/, manufacturing center, bogus foods an
drugs are being made every day by tn
hundred tons. They go labeled pure
to jobbers then to retailers and hnall
= to the public. Great consignments
= them come here. The Hawaiian Boar
I" of Health can expose their characts
y and prosecute dealers where the la
II affords remedy; but the dealers al
. often guiltless of wrong intent. The
- should have protection as we'll as II
ie public and the way to get it is throus
u, a national food inspector on duty
IN the wharves whose business it shall
to sample all imported foods, drugs al
.. liquors and condemn those that fall b
u low the recognized standards of purit
Is When such an official can be had Il
OIL work of the local Food Inspector
H. protecting the public will be much SIT
III plified, and dealers will be able to g
III what they buy or at least escape &c
o. ting what they do not buy.