Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-18
BAD CANDY DRIVEN OUT
STATE STATUTES AGAINST I'M
PURE CONFECTIONERY.
National Confectioners' Association
Brought About the Laws-Enor-
nous Increase in Sales.


| FROM the New Tribune.
| Since the evolution of the candy trade
| from the "gumdrops' of our forefathers to
| the all day suckers" frosted fglets"
| Foxy Grandpas' and other modern kinds
! of confectionery, the candy makers of this
| country have increased their product from
| an annual value of 100000 to one of
| more than ISL, 100000. In the last fifty
years the increase in the consumption of
candy has been twenty-seven fold, although
the population of the United States has in
| creased from % 191,S76 to 76, 300, 3S7 or a
| little over threefold. Thus it may be seen
| that the growth of the candy trade has
| been nine times as fast that of the popu-
lation.
| Much of this growth of business has been
| due, it is said. to the efforts of the Ma
| tional Confectioners' Association, which is
to hold Its annual convention this week,
| July 10 and II, at Saratoga. The organi-
| cation formed for the purpose of pro-
| hibiting the manufacture of poisonous can
| dies, or, as expressed in its constitution, ito
| advance the standard of confectionery in
| all practicable ways and to absolutely pre-
| vent .hurtful authorizations" Prior to 1884
| when the candy manufacturers held their
| first convention, in Chicago, the public had
become preJudiced against the eating Of
| candy because of certain poisonous kinds,
which often caused sickness and even
| death.
Non-Toxic Coloring.
| Thus it grew to be the popular opinion
| that color in candy was poisonous and that
| the brighter the color the more potent the
| poison AS result of occasional investiga-
| lions, started by local health authorities it
was discovered that harmful dyes and con-
| coctions were used by some candy makers
| for the purpose of obtaining a greater mar
| gin of profit and at the same time to dress
| up their products and make them more al
Turing to the juvenile appetite.
m "a pt hot u,
build up their trade on an enduring basis
! they must take the people into their con-
tidence. Candy must be made pure and
| wholesome. Harmful drugs and dyes must
| be eliminated. The business must be con-
| Quoted on thorough economic principles
and fraud and aduiteration must be pro-
hibited. Thus in seeking to further their
| own business ends the candy manufa cturers
| contend that they have rendered a great
! public service in guarding the millions Of
: children of the land against harmful or de-
\ leteriouS SweetmeatS.
| To carry out this crusade against poison
| Gus candies the confectoners of the coun-
| try held widely attended convention at
| Chicago in 1884, and decided to secure the
| enactment of pure candy laws in every
| state in the Union, well as a federal
statute at Washington. Because of the be-
lief Of many constitutional lawyers that a
| federal pure candy law would not be up
| held by the courts, the chief energy Of the
| association has been directed toward obtain
| ing state statutes, and at the convention
|
| announced that laws have been passed In
thirty-two states prohibiting the use of
| deleterious products in the manufacture of
| candy.
Federal Statute Needed.
| The states where such statutes have been
| enacted are for the most part in the east
and west. The last state to pass a pure
candy law was Arkansas. Many of the
| southern states have not yet enacted any
| such statutes, and in Texas, Kansas, West
| Virginia, Washington, Colorado and Ne
braska pure candy bills are still pending
| enactment. A federal pure food BILL incor-
| porating certain provisions recommended
| by the candy makers for the manufacture
| of pure candy, was introduced at Wash
| ington at the last session, but 1t was side
| tracked in the Senate.
| II was not long after the first convention
| of the association that the good effects of
| the pure candy crusade began to be mani
/ fest All the large candy manufacturing
| firms Joined the association, violators of the
newly enacted pure candy laws were pun
| ished and compelled to abide by the rules
| of the organization, which offered a reward
| of 500 for every offense and with the re-
| newed confidence of the public the con-
| sumption of candy was increased at a re-
markabe rate. Thus, 1t appears, that be-
| tween the years 1870 and 1880. prior to the
organization of the National Confectioners'
Association, the value of the annual prod
uct had increased only from SIS 800 643 to
SO, 63I O33 or about 60 per cent, whereas in
| the ten years between 1880 and 1890 the
| value of the annual product increased from
! $25 637 ,033 to $50 1897 POI, or about 100 per
| cent. In other words, the growth of the
| industry was doubled after the crusade he
| gan.
Confectionery manufacturers maintain
| that at the present time candy which con-
| tains poisonous or even harmful ingredients
is practically unobtainable in states where
pure candy laws have been passed The
association employs chemists and inspectors
of its own. who are constantly at work
analysing the colors and materials used IN
the manufacture of candy. and who inspec ct
any confectionery that may be sent 10 tho
association for examination.