The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-27
A PURE FOOD UNION
Cooperation of N. W. States Under
Stringent Laws Helps Home
Manufacturers.
Many Eastern Food Producers Don't
Care to Comply With
Laws.

Establishing uniform pure food stand.
ards for the northwestern states thru a
is now proposed will, 1t is believed, crowd
many eastern food manufacturers out of
this field and turn the business over to
the home manufacturer.
Since Commissioner Mcconnell of the
Minnesota food and dairy department an
nounced that he had extended an invita-
ton to the pure food commissioners OF
the northwest for such a conference,
manufacturers Of food products In the
northwest have been specializing on the
result with more than ordinary interest
It Is the opinion of many food manu-
facturers that If the northwestern states
can unite on uniform standards for gro
Gerry products and strictly enforce the
pure food laws, the result will be a ire
mendous impetus for that class OF manu-
featuring In the northwest.
The rigid enforcement of the pure food
laws of the northwestern states is to the
interest Of the northwestern manufacture
er. Eastern manufacturers have long
since grumbled because "Minnesota's fool
laws" as some Of them term this states
food statutes, require q different and a
better grade of goods than Is shipped into
other western states. North and South
Dakota, following Minnesota's lead. are
now in better position to demand better
quality of the eastern manufacturer, which
extends the Minnesota idea over wider
territory.
The immediate result has been that
many manufacturers have pulled their
goods out of the northwest and left the
business to the manufacturer located In
this field. The eastern manufacturer who
sells a short weight package Of adulter-
ated spice, for instance, in al lof the west
ern states, does not relish the idea Of
making a full weight package Of pure
spice for what trade he can secure IN Min
nesota and the Dakotas against the COM
petition he has to meet.
That has been the direct effect OF the
well-enforced Minnesota law in the past
three or four years or since the present
administration took hold The consumer
and retail dealer have been educated on
the value Of pure food and pure food laws.
This has taught the retail dealer to buy
where he can be sure of obtaining goods
that will conform to the pure food laws
Of his state. For this reason the business
of; Chicago food manufacturers In Mime
sofa has fallen off wonderfully. Chicago
sells goods to SO many states having no
pure food laws that in many instances it
cannot afford the expense or trouble it
must go to in meeting the high standard
set in Minnesota.
With the impetus given pure food in
Minnesota, the Dakotas and Idaho in the
northwestern manufacturer which puts
him squarely behind the movement. TAX
ing into consideration the fact that the
retail grocers' organizations of the north
west arc cooperating with the pure food
departments, 1t looks as If the north
western consumer, dealer and manufac-
turer had joined hands for the upbuilding
of northwestern industries.
While the trade of a few states in the
| northwest may be considered not attrac-
tive enough by many eastern manufactur-
ers to induce the INTO make special
grade Of goods for this section, the north
western manufacturer considers 1t oppor-
tunity enough. Under these conditions 1t
is predicted by northwestern manufactur-
ers that the volume of northwest con-
sumed food products manufactured in the
northwest will double in the next FIVE
years.
North Dakotas new food law goes into
effect July l.. The course Of Commits
sioner Ladd will be followed with much
interest by twin city manufacturers and
jobbers OF food products. The North Da-
kota law defines "adulteration" and leaves
the details entirely to the commissioner.
giving him wide latitude.
From the advance rulings made by the
| commissioner, 1t is indicated that the
North Dakota requirements will be even
more strict than those Of Minnesota. The
wide latitude given the North Dakote
commissioner makes the success Of the
flickertail law depend in a great measure
as one twin city manufacturer puts 1t
ION the horse sense shown by the depart
ment.' In the meantime, northwestern
manufacturers hope that the plan Of uni.
/ form standards for the northwest can be
| gotten under way at an early date.