The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-03-12
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
DIR. JENKINS GTVEs LECTURE ON
 CONTEMPLATION.

Light on the Food Frauds - M ost Adult l tcrations Harmless but Some of Them
 Are Menaccs Go Heaith-CO m mmittee for Arbitration Board Chosen. An interesting address on Food | Adulteration" was given by Dr. E. H. Jenkins before the Chamber of Con- merce last evening. Dr. Jenkins is at the head of the agricultural experiment station and is a well known authority on the subject In substance his re- marks were as follows:
 1 The subject of food aduIteration is one that has been threshed out many times. The first fraud in food was the apple in Eden. Its types have been handed down to the present What laws exist. in Connecticut are so fully backed up as. to be thoroughly enforc- l ed. The oleomargarine laws were sup ported so loyalty that to-day the sale of that article is almost. if not entirely, 1 wiped out. Should the laws against adulteration of foods be more closely pressed there is no doubt that aduter- ation would cease.
 | Bulletins are sent out by the station at intervals and they do much good. Fresh meats and fish, flour, sugar and tea cannot easily be adulterated. Golf fee in cheaper forms is easily adulter- ated. Butter is seldom mixed with oleo. and lard, though mixed with oth- CT fats, is sold under other names Olive oil. molasses and syrup are much adulterated. The Italian labels of the oils are from factories near at hand. l Honey is much adulterated, and the pieces of combs and the dead bees may be taken as sure signs of adulteration. Jellies and jams of the cheaper order are sure to be adulterated. The basis Is apple jelly and starch paste. They are sweetened, colored and favored with chemicals and acids.
 Baking powder furnishes an ample field for fraud. Many of the popular powders have basis of rock, quarried and ground to tloury fineness.
 "A certain brand of Sweetheart bak- ing powder was made, for the most part, of first-class clay Two million pounds were dumped on the ground in New York, being condemned as unfit for use.
 "There are many premiums to these bargain-sale food products. The pre- mium is usually a sure test of the worthlessness of the article sold. Spices are the easiest things to adulterate, They are mixed with cracker-crumbs, screenings and sawdust. It is always best to buy the very best grade of spices.
 "The so-called temperance drinks are heavily adulterated The syrups, ex- cept the natural fruit flavors, never saw the fruits from which they are pre- sumed to come.
 Most of the adulterations in foods are harmless. The most dangerous are those used to preserve meats, milk, oysters, and the like. Chemicals and acids are used to embalm or keep them, and they are dangerous. These em- balming connections are made of chem icals and acids which are odorless, col orless and tasteless.
 Milk is the principal food of invalids and infants. Physicians in recommend ing food to their patients do not antic- ipate that these foods shall be stocked with various acids and chemicals. The use of these should be prohibited"
 Previous to MT. Jenkins remarks the report of the last meeting was read and approved.
 A committee consisting of N. w Kendall and MT. Osborn was elected tC represent the Chamber of Commerce ir the meeting to be held between the Trades council, the Mason-and Build CTS association and the Business Mems association. This meeting is to be held with view to the election of a board of arbitration to settle possible disputes that may arise between employer and employe.