Evening star., 1902-03-21
FOOD ADULTERAT|ONS
Chemist Wiley Before the
House Committee.
AN ARRAY OF SAMPLES
PROCESSES OF MANUFACTURE OF
IMPURE FOODS DESCRIBED.
Staple Products Not Adulterated in
This Country-Results Of His
Long Experience.

the bureau of chemistry of the Department
of Agriculture, had arranged to take up
the time of the committee today, and the
display Of samples of adulterated foods
which he presented, appeared to be enough
to stock a corner grocery.
Dr. Wiley 1ealously advocated the Bro
sius-Hepburn bill. Before he began Chair
man Hepburn asked if he was familiar with
all sections 0. this bill. and If SO if he
would some tine during his argument take
up the bill section by section and explain
it. DIR. Wiley replied that he would be glad
to do this. However, he wished to divide
his argument into two sections. Todays
talk would be on the subject of adultera-
ton of foods I'D tomorrow he would take
up the various pending bills.
Mr.. Wiley said he had been making food
aduteration a study for the past ten years;
that Congress had made an appropriation
for this purpose for the past fifteen years.
and he was prepared to give the commit
tee the benefit of this study.
Staple Products Not Adulterated.
Staple products, such as -four and sugar.
Dr. Wiley said, were not adulterated in this
country, notwithstanding the popular belief
that the grocer mixed sand with his sugar
and that white earth was mixed In flour
Dr. Wiley exhibited sample of this
ground white earth and explained that no
market because the pure product was 100
plentiful and cheap in this country.
In referring to his display OF samples, DF-
Wiley said some were pure FOODS ana SoEe
adulterated. He here explained that the
Department of Agriculture never pubish.d
a food as adulterated before notifying the
manufacturer Of the particular product ana
giving him an opportunity 10 make d oe-
fenSe. -
AS an illustration of this DR.. Wiley said
he would refer to the firm of Bishop & co:
of California, which, he said was one or
the most reputable firms Of fruit PACKERS
in the country. In certain preserved
fruit put up by this firm the department.
had found red analine dye. A correspond
ence with the firm brought out the tact that
the packers believed they were using a
purely vegetable dye. They sent samples
of this dye, which was labeled pure vese-
table dye,
"Our analysis showed ii to have been
made of coal tar, or pure analine dye con-
tinued the doctor, land we have so not:hed
the firm
The next illustration was an "Ohio WINE.
1t was made from coal tar dye, alcohol ana
sugar. 1T does not contain any product
of the vine, said DR.. Wiley.
Fruit Products.
Fruit products were next taken up. DIR.
Wiley eXpIained that he had been one or
those who from the first had maintained
that glucose is a wholesome food. When
he had first proclaimed this belief he said
it made him very unpopular with the
honey makers, who then claimed that glu-
cose, which was used as an adulterant TO
honey. was poisonous. No one now lt-
garded glucose as injurious to health
There was two uses of the word glucose,
explained Dr. Wiley. In chemistry It
means any liquid sugar. and may apply to
any of half a dozen products. but
commercially it means only a single prod
uct, generally made from corn. \ sample
of glucose was shown. being pure water
white. heavy sprup. The method OF man
ufacture of glucose had very materially
changed during the past few years, with
the result that the article had been greatly
perfected. The old process is still used in
Europe and differs from the present
method in that in the former way sui
phuric acid was used. while now mura:ic
acid is used, and only a small quantity Of
that.
"A mixture of glucose with food products,
l maintain, is not injurious to health, said
DR.. Wiley. Neither is it a fraud"
Samples of pure fruit jellies were passed
around the committee table for inspection,
and DR.. Wiley explained how the housewife
made the product. When asked If the
sugar was pure DIR. Wiley replied that, al
though sugar was made by trust, 1t was
pure almost chemically pure. He said he
had never been able to find any adulterated
sugar on the market.
How about pulverized sugarr asked
Representative Combs.
THAT is pure Also was the reply.
Doctor. you have removed prejudice
from my mind and an apprehension from
my stomach" replied the member.
Manufacture of Jellies.
DR.. Wiley said he should not go into the
subject of the manufacture Of jams and
jelly for commerce The manufa acturers
who had testified had told the exact truth.
1t was a well-known fact that the basis OF
jelly was apple skins and cores. He also
said that large quantities Of this bi-xo-
duct of apples was shipped to Europe,
where it is said it is used in making cham
pagne.
Some Of this apple jelly was passed
around in jars and under labels showing IL
had been sold as strawberry preserves and
other berry preserves. With the jar was
also shown a piece of wOolen CLOTH colored
in various red hues. which showed the
coloring matter taken from the jelly, as
the cloth in the first instance was white.
The strawberry preserves consisted Of q
large jar of the apple base and glucose,
with twelve Strawberries distributed
through it.
One of the most persistent and one Of
the oldest authorizations was shown by two
jars of what was labeled pure honey"
One jar was the real product and one made
from glucose with slight quantity Of
honey In 1t to supply the flavor.
Bottles OF pure cane sirup were pre-
sented, to members Of the committee to
one would have to learn to like this sirup.
but after that had been done no sirup
would equal it. The difference between
molasses and sirup was explained. Mo-
lasses is the residue after the sugar has
been extracted from the cane. while siruD
contains all the properties OF the cane:
Molasses in order to be palatable moss
be diluted with glucose.
The bottled strip shown, DR.. Wiley saAo.
uas more in the nature of a home prodHcS
than a commercial article. and ne Wameo
10 make a plea for the farmer. He -.
iieyed that some way Of protecting this pare
article from limitations should be provided
The difference between beet and cane 90
esr was explained to the committee. TA4D
difference consists solely In an cffenavo
odor which is very pronounced In raw beat
sugar, and can be detected In the yedneA.
This odor comes from the salts Of potash
and other soapy substances In the beet.
DR.. Wiley will continue his testimony %.