The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-12-21

STATE FOOD LAW
IS NOT ENFORCED
Says Biologist Gerald
Mccarthy.
CALLS FOR ACTION
Says That Before Long "Honorab e
Men," Butchers in the Towns Will
be Held Up to Their Custom
~ers as Swindlers and
Prisoners.

State Biologist Gerald Mccarthy
stated yesterday: II believe there is
not butcher or meat dealer in North
Carolina who does not poison the
meats he sells, and the pure food law
prohibiting this adulteration, is not
being enforced" He continued that
the state law was strict requiring the
Commissioner of Agriculture, after
violations of the law have been dis
covered, to publish the results of the
analyses with the name of the per-
Aon or firm violating the law, ana
name of person or firm packing such
product. NJ. Mccarthy asserted that
neither the Department nor the
butchers were obeying the law.
He gave an instance of the nom
enforcement of the law. The de-
partment, he said, recognized it's i'm
portance. and during the past sum-
nuer Assistant State Chemist w. Nj.
Allen, upon whom devolVeS the work
of the food chemist, made analyses
OF twelve samples of fresh meat
from the Raleigh market. and ten of
these samples were copiously sea-
soned with boric acid This acid,
he said, is put on the meats by both
packer and local dealer. The names
of the offenders and the results of the
analyses were never published, and
Mr. Mccarthy said the butchers are
still offending.
Mr.. Mccarthy declared that practi-
cally ell the sausage that is sold has
been seasoned with sulphite of soda,
to make it appear wholesome and
fresh, when in reality, he said, the
stuff is decayed. and the adulterants
conceal the effect Of the rottenneSS.
He stated that sausageS and ham
burger steak are most extensively
poisoned. and studies of these indi-
cate that from 20 per cent. to so
per cent or more of sulphites are en-
ployed in these meats.
The law clearly defines what these
poisonous adulteTantS are and pro-
Vides Il penalty for It's violation.
In his article on the pure food
problem. in the Bulletin issued by the
North Carolina Board of Health, Mr..
Mccarthy says in part
MEN posing in their communities
as honorable business men poison
the very fountain of.thought and ac-
ton. They do this not out of igno-
rance. but out of an excess of knowl-
edge and at the instigation of avarice
which knows no bounds and acknowl.
edges no law or responsibility.
Having respect for neither the
moral nor ethical considerations there
remains no recourse but to make these
miscreants feel the firm grip of the
criminal law. This means the loca
dealer as well as the distant manu-
facturer If Il few of the butchers
who keep on hand a supply OF
'FreeZem or similar poisonous COM
pounds, were taken from their stalls
and placed i'm the chaingang for a
while we would soon see an end to the
use of such substances.
Publicity is everywhere one of the
most efficient means for check mating
raScalS. The recent Legislature
amended the North Carolina Pure
Food Act so that it is made the duty
of the Commissioner of Agriculture
who is ex officio Food Commission
er-to publish for two weeks i'm some
local newspaper the names OF deal
crs found selling adulterated or
fraudulent foods. 1t is quite prob
able that many honorable men in diff
ferent North Carolina towns will be-
fore long find themselves held up to
their customers as swindlers ana
poisoners 1t will be Interesting 10
watch the effect of this amendment
which was copied from law which
has long been in force and found very
effective i'm France.