The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-17
REPORT ON IMPURITY OF
FOODS USED IN EUROPE
Professor Allen Submits Startling
Revelations of Adultera-
tons Abroad.
ENGLAND WORST OF ALL

LEXINGTON, KY, Jan. 16.-Revelations
of the impurity OF foods in Europe are
made by Prof. Robert NJ. Allen. secretary
of the National Pure Food Association, in
his report. Professor Allen hae just re-
turned from London. Berlin and Paris
where he had been sent by the association
TO make an investigation of European food
products and to secure a representation
Of European scientists at the pure food
congress in st. Louis during the worlds
fair. Letters from Secretary of Agriculture
Wilson gave him an opportunity to prose-
cute his studies.
Mr.. Allen says: II learn from the au-
thorities OF the municipal laboratories of
Paris that 60 per cent. of the French wines
and 50 per cent. of their champagnes are
either authorizations or initial notwith-
standing the French vineyards have had
the greatest yield the past two years within
a century, and pure wine itself has been
very cheap. Much Of the wines included in
this so per cent. never saw a vineyard and
grape forms no part OF their composition.
The wines and champagnes are adulter-
ated with new alcohol. cOloring matter and
acids deleterious to the health. This as
eertiOn Is based upon the analysis of ten
thousand well selected samples Of wines and
champagnes. The United States Bureau of
Chemistry, when IL began to enforce the
pure food law on imports last year, found
that the American people have been drink
Ing Ia bells .
Professor Allen says the French govern
ment has excellent pure food laws and en-
forces them against authorizations. He ad-
ded: 1T looks from the policies being car
ried out in Germany, Holland and France
and recommendations made in England
that the use OF all antiseptics in food is
doomed and ii also looks though the
food labora tories that are studying food
authorizations, regard the use of artificial
color as the means by which most of the
frauds are put into the market"
Prof. Allen says an unjust impression pre-
vailed in the United States last year con-
corning the restriction made by Germany
against American meats. He says: The
Germans are perha ps doing more Tor their
food supply than any other nation in the
way or studying methods to make IL purer
and Of enforcing its findings. The action
Germany has taken with regard to our
meats and the action IL will soon take with
regard TO our fruits must not - considered
hostile"
England" says Prof. Allen, sis the
dumping ground for bad foods France.
Germany and America, the three great mar
ketS Tor wines, teas, cocoa and timed
foods, have added high standards of purity
TO their tariff walls and often England
gets the bad goods, which are rur away
denied entry I'm the ports of the other coun-
tries. England's food laws are insufficient
and poorly enforced"
Prof. Allen believes that Europe will be
ably represented at the chemists meeting
in 81. Louis in September. Among the
famous chemists OF England whom he ex-
poets to attend the Duke of Argyll.
who Is president of the English Pure Food
Association, and Dr. Thomas Edward
Thorpe. who was called from the presidency
don to be principal OF the government
laboratory