The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-23
DEATH BLOW FOR
'Il.M|PROYED' FOODS |
Senate Bill Strikes at Cherished
Illusions Must Yet Pass
the House.

Journal Special Service.
Washington, Feb 23.-Many condi-
ments and additions will have to be APP
piled to the senate g pure food bill be-
fore it will be swallowed by the house:
The senate bill takes away some of
the most cherished illusions regarding
foods If it should become a law as it
now stands, all whiskies will be white,
and tomato catsup, instead of being
beautiful color of the tomato, will be
a dark, muddy brown in color.
Practically all foods, particularly
those preserved, are affected by the bill.
Those who like it can still have their
corned beef, at least not unless they put
the corned beef up themselves. The bill
will prevent the butcher corning beef
with the aid of saltpetre, which has
been used since time immemorial as a
preservative of color. The beef can
be corned in brine and that is all. No
preservative can be used. It will be a
dirty gray instead of red.\
The bright, fresh looking green peas,
which everybody has been accustomed
to eating with spring lamb, will not be
come a pale, faded yellowish green, not
half so appetizing looking, but still free
from all adulterants or preservatives.
DCdLu blOW u WI ISCS.
Frankfurters and kraut will pass into
history, as the bill provides specifically
that no preservatives can be used in
either and all the 'wursts'' will pass
with them. Even the cucumber pickle
has come under the ban Of the govern
ment, for manufacturers say they can
vinegar to make pickles Of the cucum-
bers. g;
When the Hepburn bill becomes a
| law, it it does in it's present form, there
will be no more highly colored cur
rant jelly made from apple Feelings and
cores, and even the succulent cranberry
will be violation Of the law if placed
on sale as a sauce or jelly, because in
its natural state it contains benzoic
acid in parts Of one to two thousand.
There is no disposition, however, on
the part of congress to criticise or i'm
pose penalties on providence for adulter-
atlng It's own products.
Health, Not Beauty.
The argument used to offset these
things Is that, while foods may not
look SO we'll, they will at least be fa1
not wish to put any Of the manufac
tories out of business, and there is q
special provision in the law that any
one can keep on making food products
provided on each article there Il
stamped or pasted a printed slip telling
exactly what representatives. and othe7
things are used in their preparation.
Every bottle. of catsup must bea1
a placard, if it is adulterated, telling
t ms ees tha nd in add he to
eating benzoate of soda.
A slice of corned beef must bear thu
printed announcement that saltpete
has been used in it's preservation. Al
preserved, timed yegetab1es and fruit IT.
! but they can be made to look as beau
tiful if the printed cards tell what il
used in preserving them. Whisky cal
be coIored pink, green or skyeblue 1
the ingredients used for coloring ar
made known.
The house committee on interstat
and foreign commerce will take up tn
pure-food question and will give n! hear y; i
ings for the next ten days. 1t is lke!..
there will be many changes made. i
the senate bill by the house, partlcS
larly as to the stand ard to be estaE
lGshed for food products.