The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-11-26
PURE FOOD CAMPAIGN
THE COMMIssIoNER's REPORT


The report Of Dairy, Pure Food
and oil Commissioner Mcpherson
covers a great deal Of ground and de-
tails the entire work Of the commits
sion. Supplementary to IL is list
Of some 500 analysis Of foodstuffs
and dairy products sold In the state
Commissioner Mcpherson states
that out Of 200 samples Of apple
cider vinegar. LIZ proved 10 be arti-
ncial. Over 500 barrels Of this pro
duct we're condemned and shipped
out Of the state.
More than half Of the lemon ex-
trncts we're found to be wholly arti-
1eial or below the national standard.
Vanilla extracts we're equally a. bad
as the lemon, the greater portion be-
ing wholly artificial or aduIterated
with tanka and coIored with caromel
or coal tar dye.
Fully 20 per cent Of the spices
were found 70 be adulterated. Ger
tain brands we're condemned and
shipped out Of the state. The aduIter.
ants commonly used we're starch.
honr, ground cocoanut sheils, ground
peanut shells, ground almond pits
and cereal products, often coIored
with dyes.
Syrups were largely aduIterated,
glucose being the chief substitute.
There were not half a dozen brands
Of syrup on the Idaho market, which
we're really what they were represent
ed TO be when the Law went into
effect. The manufacturers are now
labelling their goods and selling them
for what they really are.
-Four brands OF baking powders
were condemned. having been found
TO contain an injurious residue.
Other brands are now labeled and are
not harmful.
A large proportion Of the cheap
ground ooEees were found to contain
chieory and cereal.
when the Law went into effect only
two brands Of catsups could be legal
~ sold In the state. Coal tar dyes
we're largely used In adulteration.
This has since been remedied.
BY far the larger portion Of Jams
and jellies proved TO be rank frauds.
Many labeled pure did not con.
tain fruit or sugar, being made Of
glucose, dextrin, starch, gelatin.
alum and phoshporic acid with dyes
to give them brilliant color.
Canned French peas were found 10
he harmfnlly sdulterated and Il was
discovered that mineral sugar and
salicylic acid had been used to a
great extent in canned vegetables.
Dyes and suiphites we're also used.
one as bleaching agent and the
other to make immature products
look like mstured ones.
The commissioner states that pro.
badly the most dangerous adulterants
In meats, supposedly sold ia the fresh
state, was the use Of preparations
known as 'free9em, I" 'preservaline. e,
''ioeliDe, " ETC., which were diluted
solutions Of formaldehyde. sulphuric
acid, etc. Coal tar dyes we've also
used 10 give meats bright red color.
A great amount Of these antiseptics
were confiscated and shipped without
the state.
The investigation Of lard brought
out the fact that lard being cold as
pure was found to be adulterated with
cottonseed oil, beef and mutton fats.
hleaehed with borax and sold as pure
leaf lard.
A very small amount OF olemar-
Garine is now being used in the state
and process butter is fast disappear
ing.
The present law with regard to coal
oil products Is, the commissioner
declared. wholly wrong and con-
sequently imperative. The strict
enforcement of this section Of the
law would, be states, only make mat
ters worse.
DAIRY PRODUCTS.
With respect TO diaries and dairy
products, Commissioner Mcpherson