The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-05-05
CATSUPS
ADULTERATED
City Chemist Gibbs Files a
Report With Health Board
on Results of Analyses
PERSONALITIES
Samples Contain Coloring
Matter Which Dyes White
Cloth a Brilliant Red

City Chemist Gibbs filed a report
with the Health Board yesterday that
the analyses of samples Of the catsup,
catsups disclosed the presence of pre-
servatives or coloring matter, or both
ingredients. Gibbs states in his report
that twenty Of the samples contained
coal tar dye, sixteen benzoic acid,
four salicylic acid and three saccha-
rine. Only six of the samples did not
contain a coloring substance, five Of
them having benzoic acid and one
saccharine.
Gibbs also submitted two pieces Of
cloth originally white in color, but one
Of which was dyed brilliant red and
the other a salmon red by being i'm
mersed In two of the samples of cat
sup. Gibbs states that the catsups are
consumed by children whose digestive
systems are unable to resist the de-
leterious action of the adulterantA
Gibbs also reports that sample No.
8 manufactured by the Grau Packing
Company and labeled "Grau's Gold
Medal contained arsenic to the ex-
tent Of between .o4 and .o6 Kilograms
per 100 cubic centimeters. Gibbs says
the presence of arsenic could result
from old bottles being cleaned with
lead shot. some Of which might be left
in the bottle and be acted upon by the
catsup to form poison. Gibbs advised
that the use of lead shot to clean bot
ties be prohibited.
So important were the disclosures
made by Gibbs that the Health Board
held a special meeting and adopted the
report together with the recommends
lions contained therein. Health Officer
Raglan was directed to instruct the
food inspectors to quarantine and de-
stroy all brands of catsup condemned
by Gibbs.
The following list shows the result Of
mis- analyses of twenty-six samples Of
the first name In each item being that
of the manufacturer when known; the
second, that of the seller:
Bishop & Co.. Los Angeles CAL, Great
American Importing Tea Company, benzoic
acid California Fruit Gamers Association.
California Home Packing Company, San Fran
cisco. Cal, Prayers, benzoic acid, coal tar dye;
Cal. A. Inselman. salicylic acid. coal tar dye;
Columbia Manufacturing Company, San Fran
cisco. Cal. G. II. schlichting. sahcylic acid.
f Rocheste spanhaRe bensoc selS
Fisher Packing Company San Francisco. Cal.
Gordon Packing Company San Francisco. Cal.
w. F. Harris Co.. benzoic acid, coal tar dye;
Grau Packing Company San Francisco Cal.
Nevraumont Brothers saccharine, coal tar dye
Grau Packing Company, San Francisco. CAL,
D. J. Scatter, benzoic acid, coal tar dye; Grau
rieuz & Moser. saccharine. coal tar dye; H. J.
Heinz & Co.. Pittsburg. Pa. Goldberg Bowen
Company. benzoic acid; levin Meyer Com
pany. wetzler & Fnlernstahl, benzoic acid; Pa
Max BIa asFg benzoic acid coal tar dye phila
deiphia Manufacturing Company (alieged,, San
Francisco. Cal. Thomas Rush, saIicylic acid,
coal tar dye: Reed Packing Company, San
Francisco. CAL. @. Iverson. benzoic acid, coal
tar dye Reed Pickle Works San Francisco
Cal. Jacob Schmidt. salcylfo acid, coal tar
dye; San Francisco Packing Company w.
Adams coal tar dye: Saunders & stubbs, San
Francisco, T. Solomon. coal tar dye; T. A.
Snider Preserving Company. Cincinnati, Ohio
r. Mccoy & Sons. coal tar dye; Sussppan-
Worrnser Company, San Francisco, CAL, Topp
Brothers, benzoic acid, coal tar dye; unknown,
Goldterg-Bowen Company, benzoic acid. coal
tar dye. unknown, w. f.. Harris q Co.. benzoao
acid. coal tar dye; unknown. Rathjen Broth
ers benzoic acid, coal tar dye unknown, Gin
cinnati, Ohio T. Trachsler benzoic acid, coal
tar dye; unknown. G. H. Schlichting. sac
charine.