Omaha daily bee., 1906-07-09
our LETTER sOI
Food Personalities W.. AduIterston-.

Food Personalities ". Adulterattons.
NEW YORK. July $50 the Editor Of
The Bee: / note In your esteemed issue
OF June % an interesting editorial headed
The Pure Food Bil'' il Is certainly
gratifying to know that we have at last
a pure food law The adulteration Of food
was practiced to such a large extent that
It was absolutely necessary to place some
curb on manufacturers who were hood-
ing the market with cheap. adulterated
foods.
The new law will compel labels on all
articles Of preserved food II the public,
however do not pay heed to the labels, of
what value will they be? The public must
be taught that there is no economy in
cheap foods which have been adulterated
with some inferior substance that would
lessen the food value.
The preservation of food, however should
not be considered adulteration, as the
preservative is used to prevent the arti-
Gle from deterioratlng. IT is not the or
dinarily preserved food that Injuries the
consumer 1t Is food that has not been
preserved that is in condition for the
propagation OF toxic germs which are a
great menace to human life. Those who
advocate dispensing with mild preserva-
tives do not realize the danger which turks
in FOOD that is not preserved.
Many varieties of micro organisms pro-
duce poisonous ptomaines. After they are
once produced they are not easily destroyed.
The putrfactive organisms which produce
ptomaine poison in such articles as canned
meats, head cheese, fresh pork, fish and
other animal matter, both raw and cooked,
are very dangerous to life. A peculiar
feature Of ptomaine poison is that It can
not be detected by sight, taste or smell.
The cause of ptomaine poison can be
traced to the lack of facilities for prevent
ing the development Of toxic germs.
Meats, fish or fowl that are sprinkled with
| borax or boric acid are kept I'm a clean,
healthful condition, which prevents the
formation and propagation OF toxic germs.
The senate, recognizing the value OF
| mild preservatives accepted an amendment
which will allow borax or boric acid on
any article OF food from which It can
| be removed by maceration in water prior
| to consumption. Personalities of a pene-
trating nature. however. could not be re-
moved in this manner
It lie an erroneous suppositon to think
| that preservatives could be used to con-
vert tainted piece OF meat into a sweet,
edible condition
Laws should be enacted and enforced so
/ as " pIOlttl lne unWaTN consumer Our
new pure food law will not be Of much
value to the masses until the various state
laws amended so as to conform with
the national law.
| Now that the pure food law has been
enacted, it certainly will be wise to have
all places where food is prepared investi-
gated. as the condition OF food and the
health Of the nation depends to a certain
! extent on hygienic surroundings.
The spices and condiments that are used
! have comparatively no food value. and
| they are partaken of to momentarily sat
isfy the palate (which has been educated
to crave such artcles) 10 the detriment OF
the digestive organs.
The question OF eating is a very serious
| one. 1t is not so much, however, what
| we eat as it is how we eat. Food s.,ust
| he assimilsted to he benehcial our rations
| should he balanced; our diet should be va
ried. Thorough masticatio is absolutely
necessary to prepare FOOD for the stomach
When persons bolt their food and wash II
down with liquids they are candidates fol-
the dyspeptic brigade.
We can live without food for thirty days
or more we can, live without water foI
about seven daysstwe cannot live with
out air. however. Tor FIVE minutes Con.
sequently as much. or more. attention
should he paid to our water. and air sup
plies as there is to food There should b,
vigilant inspections Of school rooms fac
tories, theaters, public buildings, etc, t
insure perfect ventilation.
We spend about one-third Of our live
In bed. We must breathe regularly how
ever. during our sojourn in Sunderland
and II we breathe pure air all night we will
certainly arise In the morning greatly re
freshed.
We have the power within ourselves (,
he moderate in all things. and II we exer
else this power We will enjoy life a. tn
Creator intended we should
IT, r. LANGDON.