The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1906-06-14

rotten box carts, in all of which pro-
cesses it was in the way of gathering
dirt, splinters, floor filth and the ex-
pectoration of tuberculous and other
diseased workers. Where comment
was made to floor superintendent
about these matters it was always the
reply that this meat would afterwards
be cooked and that this sterilization
would prevent any danger from its use,
Even this, it may be pointed out in
passing, is not wholly true. A very
considerable portion Of the meat SO
handled is sent out as smoked products
and in the form of sausages. which are
prepared to be eaten without being
cooked.
Particular Glaring Instance.
a particularly glazing instance CT
unoleanliness was found in a room
where the best grade of sausage was
being prepared for export. It was made
from carefully. selected meats, and was
being prepared to be eaten knocked.
10 this case the employee carted the
chopped up meat across a room
IN q barrow the handles of which were
filthy with grease The meat was then
thrown out upon tables and the EN-
ploy climbed upon the table, handled
the meat with his unwashed hands,
knelt with his dirty apron and trous-
ers in contact with the meat he was
spreading out, and, after he had fin
ished his operation, again took hold Of
the dirty handles Of the wheelbarrow
went back for another load and re-
peated this process Indefinitely. In
curry developed the fact that there
was no water in this room at all, and
the only method the man adopted for
cleaning his hands was to rub them
against his dirty apron or on his still
hlthier trousers.
AS an extreme example Of the entire
disregard on the part Of employees Of
any notion of cleanliness in handling
dressed meat, we saw a hog that mad
just been killed, cleaned, washed and
started on its way to the cooling room
fall from the sliding rail to a dirty
wooden floor and slide part way into a
filthy mems p1dyy. 1t was picked up
by two employees, placed upon a truck,
carried into the cooling room and hung
ND with other carcasses, no effort be-
ing made to clean it.
The radical defect in the present
system. of inspection is that it does
not go far enough. It is confined at
present By law to passing on the
healtlfuiness of animals at the time
OF killing; but the meat that is used
in sausage and in the various forms
Of canned products and other prepared
meat foods goes through many pro-
cesses, in all Of which there is pos
sibility for contamination through IN
sanitary handling, and further danger
through the use Of chemicals. During
all these processes of preparation there
is no government inspection and no
whatever that these meat
fool products are wholesome. and fit.
fer food-desnite the fact that all these
products, when sent out bear a label
stirling they have been passed upon by
inspectors.
Manufacture Of Potted Ham.
AS to the Investigation Of the alleged
use of dyes. personalities or chemicals
in the preparation Of cured meats. sau-
sages and canned goods, we ara na+
yet prepared to report. We Gil lonk
into the matter Of sanitary handlina
Of the meats being prepared for tie
various food products. The results OF
our observations have already beer
partly given. Other instances of how
products may be made up and still
secure the stamp Of government in
spection are here given. In one well
known establishment we came upon
fresh meat being sh0veIed into barrels,
and a regular proportion being added
of stale scraps that had lain on a dirty
floor in the corner of a room for some
days previous. In another establish
ment, equally we'll known, a long table
was noted covered with several hun
dred pounds of cooked scraps Of beef
and other meats. Some of these meat
scraps were dry, 1eathery and unfit to
be eaten; and in the heap were found
pieces Of pigskin, and even bits Of
rope strand and other rubbish. In
quiry evoked the frank admission from
the man in charge that this was to be
ground up and used in making ported
ham"
All of these canned products bear
labels Of which the following is
sample:
"Abattoir No. The contents Of this
package have been inspected accord
ing to the act Of Congress Of March
8, 1891. Quality guaranteed"
The phraseology Of these labels is
wholly unwarranted. The government
pass only upon the health
Of the animal at the time Of killing.
They know nothing Of the processes
Though which the meat has passed
since this inspection. They do not
know what else may have been placed
in the cans Ia addition to inspected
meat As matter Of fact. they
know nothing about the Contents Of
the can upon which the packers place
these labels-{lo not even know that