The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-03
TOPEKA OYSTERS O. K.
Food Inspector Farnsworth Tells Why
They Are Good.

Food Inspector Farnsworth says
that he has driven the embalmed oys-
ter out of town, and that people who
buy oysters in the city now may be
article without formaldehyde dressing.
oysters now being sold in Topeka
come in two forms-one kind packed
in square tin cans, holding about a
quart; the other kind, known as bulk
oysters, which formerly came in tubs
and buckets. but which now come
packed in a new-fangled arrangement
known as a carrier"
The carrier is sort of an ice cream
freezer with oysters where the ice
cream ought to be. The oysters are
'shucked'' out at the sea shore into
tin vessels holding 5. 10 or rs gallons,
and the vessels are Immediately sealed
up, rendering them entirely imper-
vious to the air. These tin vessels are
then set in tubs. and packed in ice.
The tubs are shipped in refrigerator
cars.
ST believe this method of shipment
to be entirely safe, and to dispose en-
tirely of the necessity for the use of
formaldehyde," said Food Inspector
Farnsworth today. ''I think that no
oysters are now being shipped in here
which have been emblamed. as they
call it. I have tested oysters from al
most every lot which have been ship
ped in. and have found none which
were not all right. OF course some
small dealer might now and then get
in a tub shipped in the old fashioned
way, but it will not happen very
often.''
In the past the bulk oysters have
been shipped in here, the same as to
many other cities, simply by putting
them into a wooden tub or bucket,
and dropping a piece of ice down in
among them. This added just so much
water to the juice of the oysters, and
increased the dealers profits. 1t is
claimed that most of the oysters sold
here have also been "watered'' in adj
dition to the melted ice. to still fur
Their increase the profits.
AS for the oysters shipped in the
tubs and kegs they are all "doped" up
and if the people generally knew what
no matter how cheap the price. In
shipping in the pals it is an absolute
necessity to put in chemical preserva-
tive for the reason that the oysters on
being soaked and softened by the
fresh water and ice mixed with them
in the pals will not keep unless en-
balming powder is added to hold them.
The oysters are of course subject to
all the impurities that may be in the
water and ice with which they are
mixed and which they absorb. The
chemical preservative tmpairs the
flavor of the oysters and is very in
furious to the digestion of the con-
sumner, but it has to be done under
the water method of shipping in
pals. While the pals are in transit
the ice cuts the oysters, the water
bloats and softens them. the dope"
makes them Slimy-all three COM
bined sap and drain every particle of
the original flavor and their quality is
1opelessly impaired. AS a food prod |
let they are unfit for human consump-
ion, sometimes they are even dam
yerous, especially If the stomach be in
weakened or deranged condition.
On the other hand there is no
healthier food product than good |
OYSTER in fresh condition just as shuck- |
ID from the shell, and it is one of the |
easiest of foods to digest. There are
10 healthier or sturdier set of men |
han those engaged in the oyster in
lustry on the sea coast, a large part |
If whose diet consists of oysters.