The Washington times., 1906-03-02
NEW FOOD LAW

People now demand the right TO know
exactly what they eat
To be told by maker or retailer that
the food is pure" is not satisfactory.
Candy may contain pure white clay
or pure" dyes and yet be very harmful.
Syrups may contain pure glucose and
yet be quite digestible and even benef-
cial. Tomato catsup may contain small
amount of salicylic or Ooracic acid as a
necessary preservative, which may agree
with one and be harmful to another.
Wheat flour may contain portion Of
corn -four and really be improved. Olive
oil may be made of cotton seed oil.
Butter may contain beef suet and yet
be nutritious.
The person who buys and eats must
protect himself and family, and be has
a right 10, and now demands. law
under which ne can make Intelligent Sc
lection Of food;
Many pure food bills have been intro
.5aced and some passed by State legisla-
lures; many have been offered to Con-
gress. but all thus far seem objection
able
1t has seemed difficult FOR politicians
to formulate a satisfactory bin that
would protect the common people and
yet avoid harm 10 honest makers and
prevent endless trouble to retailers. No
Government commission or officer has
the right to fix food standards to de
fine what the people shall and shall not
eat for what agrees with one may not
agree with another. and such act would
deprive the common citizen OF his per-
sonal liberty The Postum Cereal Co,
Ltd perhaps the largest makers of
prepared foods In the world. have ma
turauy q close knowledge OF the needs
Of the people and the details OF the
business of the purveyOrs, Uhe retail
erocerD and. guided by this experience
have prepared a bill for submission to
Congress which is intended to accomp-
iisI the desired ends, and inasmuch as
n citizen Of the United States has right
TO food protection even when he enters
another State II is deemed proper that
the Government take control OF this
matter and provide a national law to
govern all the States. 4 copy of the bill
is herewith reproduced
Sec. l governs the matter whether the
food is put up in small packages sealed.
or in barrels, boxes, or otherwise
Sec governs the retailer who may
open barrel ana sell tie 1000 III
small quantities When he puts the
goods into a paper bag he must also
enclose a printed copy of the statement
of the maker which was affixed 10 the
original package and iuasmuch as the
retailer cannot undertake to guarantee
the statement of ingredients he must
publish the statement of the makers and
add his own name and address as
III no
is represented to him which relieves the
retailer of responsibility of the truth of
the statement and throws it upon the
maker, where it properly belongs.
The remaining sections explain them
selves.
Tile Postum Cereal Co, Ltd, for ex-
ample, have from the beginning of its
existence printed on the outside of each
and every package of Postum and
Grape-Nuts food a truthful and exact
statement of what the contents were
made of in order that the consumer
might know precisely what he or she
was eating, A person desiring to buy,
for instance, strictly pure fruit Jelly and
willing to pay the price has a right to
expect not only an equivalent for the
cost but q further right to q certainty
rs to what he eats Or he may be will
ling to buy a. less cost jelly made
part of fruit juices. sugar, and q por-
tion of glucose. But be must be sup
piled with truthful information of the
ingredients and be permitted to use
-
his personal liberty o select his own
food aceura tely7
The people have allowed the slow
murder of infants and adults, by tricky
makers of food. drink, and drugs to go
on about long enough, Duty to oneself,
family. and nation demands that every
man and woman join in an organized
movement to clear our people from this
blight. You may not be able TO go per-
sonally to Washington 20 impress your
congressman, but you can, in most
effective way tell him by letter how you
desire him to represent you.