Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-06-29
FOOD INSPECTION.
Subject for Discussion ut Closing Scs-
sion of Health Officers school.

The seventh annual school of instruc-
zion for Vermont health officers came to
Il successful close Thursday morning
and by night every one of the 3o health
officers who had been in attendance had
left for home highly pleased with the
instruction they had received from the
papers on timely topics.
The only papers of the morning was
read by c. =. Moat. chemist at tho
State laboratory of hygiene. his subject
being Food Inspection Under Recent
Legislation.' The paper was in part as
follows: Since the last session oil the
school for health officers at which we
talked of pure food and laws Cor obtain
ing the same. We have had new food
law enacted and are now engaged in
carrying ont the provisions Of that act.
our methods in the enforcement of the
iaw are as follows: The collection of
samplcs has been mainly carried out by
The State board of health and their
agents the health officers who have
purchased in the open market samples
VI some of the food products which
were suspected of adultcration. These
have been sent to the laboratory and
Examined. The result of the cXamina-
ZION is then sent to the secretary of tho
State board of health. who notifies the
acaler of the result. stating that the
sample does or does not meet the require
alents of the Vermont law.
The warning notice sent to the dealers.
when goods bought of them are found
10 be adultorated, is not to be regarded
rs any reflection on their honesty of in
tcgrty. The notice is sent to them
against further purchase or sale of the
goods. 1t gives them the opportunity
Of bringing the results to the attention
of the wholesaler and manufacturer and
allows them to specify in their future
orders that the goods shall meet the
requirements of our laws. This is the
pnly means that we have of reaching
the manufacturers who are outside our
State and we desire the help OF tho
local dealers to this end SO that we may
protect them as far as possible against
these commercial frauds by giving them
Information concerning their nature.
Our now law carries no appropriation
and gives tho power of collecting sam
piles to the State board of health and
the health officers. who are to act as
inspectors. While this is not as good
system as one in which there is an
inspector who covers the whole State
In his trips, still we have made be-
ginning.
Education of the people and honest
labelling are. IN my mind, the founda-
tons of n systematic campai IN for pure
and wholesome foods. We must instruct
the people what goods are of standard
quality for very few of our noccssar!
foods contain anything injurious Il
health except in the case of antiseptic:
and colOring matters. When goods are
honestly labelled the consumers may buy
what they desire without being deceived
or defraudci. Certain manufacturers sa,
The people never look at the label VIII,
put on the name of the constituents
why not, ] ask, if there Is nothing pres
ent that they Gro ashamed ofc Ccrtainl,
the worn out phrase absolutely Pure
means nothing to most manufacturers
sut when goods are correctly labelled
md the people learn the label readin!
habit. it will mean that the consumer
will have chance to buy what the.
want.
Many popular fancics form the basi
" many claims Of the manufacturers rc
fardng adulterAtions. The people cal
for it. they say, when they are callc
upon to stop coloring certain foods
Would the consumers call for it if the
Knew that the colorng was only a schcm
% make the goods appear of bette
quality than they really are. Facts q
this kind must be brought before tn