Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-24
FOOD INVESTIGATIONS
INQUIRY TO BE MADE REGARD
ING EFFECTS OF COLD STORAGE.
Laboratory to Be Opened in New York
for the Examination of Inn
ported Products

In accordance with congressional legisla-
ton the bureau OF chemistry OF the De
partment of Agriculture is about to begin
an investigation OF the effect of cold stor-
age on the healthfulness of foods A cir
cular letter has been addressed by the de-
partmeut to all cold storage firms and
warehouses. To the end that they may &C
quaint the department with knowledge of
the matter for the purpose OF compari-
son and general study.
Both animal and plant products are in
cluded In the field of research. and the
questions asked by the department are the
minimum and maximum time of storage.
the usual time and the average temperature
OF the place of storage. portion of the
letter sent out follows:
1t is well known that cold storage at a
proper temperature improves certain food
products up to a certain point Such Is
the case with fresh meat. poultry. fruit. etc.
There are other food products which il Is
well known are not improved by keeping
in cold storage at any temperature. such
as fish, oysters. eggs. etc. The eXigenCies
OF transportation and market conditions,
however often require that such foods be
kept for a time before consumption. and
cold storage offers the best means of pro-
lection in such cases. Ii is important to
know now long bodies of this kind
be kept In cold storage without materially
lessenng their value food impair
ing, To any appreciate extent their
wholesomeness. For bodies of the first
class which are improved upon keeping.
there must he some definite period of stor-
age which develops their maximum quail
ties. both OF palatability and wholesome
ness
1t Is the wish of the acting secretary.
Willis L. Moore, to secure the collaboration
of those engaged in the cold storage bust
ness and the successful carrying out of the
will of Congress depends in large measure
upon their cooperation with the depart
ment. The Investigations will he carried
on under the personal direction and super
vision OF DR.. Harvey W. -. Hey. chief OF the
bureau of chemistry.
Imported Products to Be Examined.
A chemical laboratory for the examina-
ton of imported food products will be
opened in the appraisers stores building of
the Treasury Department in New York
by the Department of Agriculture. Septem-
Der .. Five expert chemists will be installed.
having been selected through special ex-
amnationS by the civil service commits
sion. This is the first OF number OF port
| labora tories to be established to prevent
impure food. the product of foreign Coun-
tries. entering the United States. Congress
will be asked for appropriations for such
laboratories at Boston, Philadelphia, New
Orleans. San Francisco and Chicago.
The foreign pure food law has been in
| force more than year. and is regarded as
beyond the experimental stage. DR. III. w.
Wiley chief of the bureau of chemistry
of the Department of Agriculture. declares
that 1t is the intention of the department
now Ito put the screws OF. Eighty per
cent of the importations of food arrive at
New York. Samples from each cargo
hereafter will be taken direct from the
appraiser to the laboratory, obyiating the
delay of requesting samples by the Secre-
tary of Agriculture from the Secretary OF
the Treasury and the transmission of these
samples to WashI ton for analysis.
When the pure food law wac first put into
operation II was found that - per cent OF
of
miscable under its provisions. Many car
goes have been reshipped out of the coun-
try impure. resulting in raising the
standard of imports until now 1T Is esu-
mo ted that s., per cent of the imports are
admissible under the law.
| The Secretary of Agriculture has just
granted the first request OF an importer 10
! destroy his cargo instead of reshippins IL.
after it had been condemned as impure. the
cargo being olive oil
Sausages From Germany.
The Secretary of Agriculture is awaiting
an Interpretation of portion OF the law.
which il is believed. will exclude entirely
the importation OF sausages from Germany.
The law excludes articles from entry into
tire United States from foreign countries
which prohibit the Importation of such ar
ticles Germany prohibits the importation
of sausage and should the Attorney Gen
eral construe the law as II Is believed ne
will in this respect 1t VIII be enforced
against German sausages.
A set of suggestions to importers of food
products has just been issued by the bu-
reau of chemistry. in which specific infor-
nation Is given as to what Will and what
will not be considered as adulterated. inn
pure misbranded or otherwise obnoxious
articles under the law.
The analysis of whisky in this list is
drawn with a view to holding up what is
termed Scotch whisky" according to Or.
H. w Wiley, chief of the bureau of chem
istry. DR.. Wiley declares that there Is not
a barrel of pure Scotch whisky in the
United States and that the importations Of
this article practically all connections
and should be labeled compound.