The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-24
IS 3, UNIFORM LABELLING hid.
The Subject Discusses. by the Illinois

i. Is = .
i Alfred H. Jones, flood commissioner Of
Illinois, delivered an address this morn
ing on Uniform Labelling" His paper
was. in part as follows: 90 4
The proper labelling of the various food prod
.ucts 50 that the dealer and consumer, and all
Just what the article Of food is, as well as to
have printed on the label the name and address
of the manufacturer, packer or dealer, Is one OF
;the most difficult propositions with which the
state food commissioner has to deal. The right
eousness and business of the rule cannot be
questioned. As soon as we obtain, uniformi-
ty In laws and rulings In regard to the labelling
:of all articles of food then the enforcement Of
the laws prohibiting the sale OF adulterated and
unwholesome food will be comparatively easy.
When shall have obtained this uniformity
in labelling all articles. of food for sale one set
of labels will answer for every state in the
union When we consider that these different
articles Of food, as manufactured and offered for
sale, If pure and unauthorized, are substantially
the same in every state of the union, ans their
effect upon the consumer substantially the same,
then we can understand why the law In regard
to labelling these products should be substan-
TALLY the same. j =
lect, provides that an article of food shall be
deemed to be adulterated if any substance or
substances has been mixed with it so to
lower or depreciate or injurously affect it's
quality, strength or purity. Now, how is this
law to be enforced unless the label shall show
just what the article or articles ingredients
are that go to make up the food product IN
question? Another provision Of nearly every
state food law is that If any inferior or cheaper
substance or substances have been substituted
wholly or In part for 1t then the article is adul
terated and the necessity of this paragraph is
patent to every one. And when say that the
substance or substances going to make up the
article shall be printed stamped upon the
label, I do not mean that it should be printed
in some obscure place and in letters SO small as
MOTTO be readtsbut plainly printed or stamped
In letters. or type, easily dscernible the front
part of the label.gs
In illinois, when the food law was enacted in
1885, our inspectors found baking powders that
were wholly unfit for food, but there had been
and address OF the manufacturer or packer had
not been required by law to be: on the label and
the same was trueiOf nearly every article of pre-
pared food on our market.
The danger to life and health from the con-
| sumption OF il such vast amount of food If
adulterated is the vital question and calls for
immediate action..s ~
Nearly four years experience has thoroly con-
WINGED me that the most effective manner of con
trolling the evils of adu1teration Of foods and
drinks Is by having the laws made thoroly COM
prehensive covering the manufacture and sale
of all articles Of food and drink. These laws
should include proper labelling.
The fraud bears most heavily on the pooper
class OF people, whose financial necessities com
pei them to buy cheap food, and who have no
means OF knowing what the article is unless
the same Is honestly disclosed by the label.
We must have a national food law, to execute
which there must be national food commission
er, with full power and authority to appoint as
sistants, inspectors and chemists, and also to
establish laboratory and make rulings etc
| When we have a national law, with rulings and
standards, and requiring every articles Of food
or food product to be properly labeled slammed
or branded, then we can prepare similar state
| laws and submit them to the legislatures and
| secure their enactment.