Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-16


e. G. Bennett, proprietor of the New
market, a meat shop recently estab-
llshed on Broadway pleaded guilty in
the police court yesterday to the use of
preservatives on hamburger steak. He
was promptly fined $5. Bennet was let
off with this light fine only after he
had made many promises to Justice
Chambers and City Prosecutor Beebe
to the effect that he would never again
use any embalming substance on any
kind of meat.
For several weeks members of the
city chemists force have been carrying
on systematic crusade against meat
dealers having regulations as repu-
table butchers, but who are said to use
preservatives on many kinds of meats.
The crusade has been carried on quietly
and would probably never have been
known by Angelenos had 1t not been
for the case in Justice Chambers court
yesterday, and the issuance of war
rants for the arrest of several butchers
and milk dealers.
Use Poison on Meat as-r@'s
In the drag net which is out for both
milkmen and butchers who violate the
pure food laws have been caught six
men. One has been arrested and has
confessed. Warrants for the other five
will probably be served today.
The five men yet to be tried for al
legged violation of the pure food laws
are M. w. Everhardy, proprietor of the
Palace meat market, 302 South Spring
street; F. Levy, who has a market in
South Spring street; c.. Foggi, who has
place in Macy street; N. Van de
Verg, manager for the San Julian Milk
company; and Manager Moore of the
Western Creamery company The first
three of these men are accused, accord
ing to the warrants, of using preserva-
line, a corrosive poison, on meat. The
other two are accused in the warrants
of using formaldehyde in milk, cream
and butter
The action of preserValine is to give
1t fresh or blood like color. Formal
dehyde keeps milk from souring dur
ing hot weather. Stale milk or even
soured milk is so neutralized by the use
of formaldehyde that it readily passes
for fresh milk until subjected to a
chemical test.
May Revoke Licenses
1t has been unofficially announced
that some milk dealers in Los Angeles
are now using great quantities of en-
balming fluids. The city chemist, act
ing in conjunction with the health de-
partment and the food inspectors, will,
1t is said, prosecute every case of the
use of any foreign substance in milk,
cream, butter or on meat. These Off
cials say that hereafter those who dis
regard the law will be given extreme
penalties for the first offense and will
have their licenses taken from them for
a second offense.
In the case of Bennett. who pleaded
guilty yesterday and was fined, more as
a warning than as a penalty the city
chemist found that he had been using
preserValine ON hamburger stake. His
method. 1t is said, was to sprinkle
liberal amounts of this stuff on the
chopped meat and in this way make it
appear so much like fresh meat that
housewives We're easily fooled
Market men say decaying meat in
this way can be kept for days at a time
without the odor becoming noticeable.
The powder does not. however pre-
vent the decay of the meat nor neu-
tralize the unwholesome effect of eating
the tainted stuff.
Is Slow Poison
Preservallne is not quick deadly
poison, the chemists say, but enough
of it taken in food will in time break
down the walls of the stomach and will
cause dyspepsia and half a dozen other
stomach ailments. Preservaline is said
to be particularly hard on the stomachs
of children. 1t has tendency to absorb
and destroy the pepsin used in diges-
ton.
When brought before the bar of JUS
tice Chambers court yesterday Ben
nett pleaded guilty to the charge of
using preservaline on hamburger steak.
No sooner had he pleaded guilty than
he began making excuses. He told the
court that II was not he but some of the
employees Of the Bennett establishment
that We're responsible for the use of the
poison. He asked the courts leniency
on this ground
Justice Chambers was apparently not
inclined to take much stock in any such
excuses and roundly scored Bennett for
employing such men.
Bennett walked from the court much
crestfallen after he had paid his fine
and had given his promise to abstain
from the use of preservallne or any
embalming materials in the future.
one of the latest forms Of fooling the
Di1bIfc has come tO light In tha xUaU