Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-11-11
NEW LABELS ON FOODSTtFFS
Ornamental Words and Pictures Must
Come OF the Cans
LABEL MAKERS IMAGINATION GETS A JOLT
Every word Of AdvertisinE aud
Every Design Must Accord with
Conteuts-Trade Secrets
Revealed.

ment Of the pure food law will necessitale
a liberal expenditure of photographers and
printers ink in labelling new packages put
out by the manufacturers. Where goods
are shipped the length and breadth OF the
country, advertised and used accordingly,
they come under federal jurisdiction, and
the complexion of the billboards and other
display spaces advertising them will UNI
dergo a decided change. This redeoora-
ton may even extend to the delivery carts,
| for tht reason that designs used on the
| labels become in time such a trade mark
as to be repeated in facsimile wherever
the cOmpsny's "ad' Is displayed, The label
| must give the true contents OF the pack
age, the true name Of the manufacturer,
and the true name Of The place OF manu-
tacture.
Many Of the familiar signs and figures
which greet the eye in public places will
disappear. But the pure food law is not
to abolish display advertising! New types,
new designs, new colors will take the
place Of the old favorites. The rush for
publicity will be greater than ever. Those
manufacturers whose products were up to
requirements will give due prominence to
the fact, and the less fortunate, once
their shortcomings are remedied. will be
| equally Jealous in proclalming the purity
OF their goods.
! Food products will no longer be sold
for what they are not. The regulations
| provide that no picture design or device
which gives any false indication Of origin
| or quality shall be used upon any label.
For example, the picture of a pig will not
! go" as a label il placed upon packages
containing beef products, and the likeness
of a chicken will be equally obnoxious to
| the government If pasted on cans con-
taiflng veal or pork. Geographical names
may be used only with the words "cut,"
type" brand" or style" as the case
may be- except upon foods produced or
manufactured in the place, state, territory
or county named For instance, ham not
produced in New York is not New York
! ham," and may only be labeled New York
style" Bologna sausage does not neces-
sarfly come from abroad, and hereafter it
must be labeled Bologna style sausage ."
Whisky is not whisky unless It is the
straight undiluted article and Boston
baked beans, as now advertised, need not
necessarily have ever been in Boston. In
deed, most of them are not even baked
but are cooked or boiled. Cod, IL the ex-
perts are to be believed, is not cod at all.
1t might be hake, paddock or cusk
AGF NEGAAAs
Ice cream is no longer a strictly dairy
product. It is now rather a kitchen dish
and classified with puddings OF course
! there are all kinds of ice cream. but the
truly commercial product contains very
! little cream at all, and is made largely
Of corn starch, gelatine and fiavoring ex-
| tracts. AS such it is lacking by several
J per cent In the fats required by the gov
| eminent. Patent medicines are classified
| under "pure foods" so far as the law in
| question is concerned, and those that CON
| tain either alcohol, opium or cocaine, I'M
less the same is indicated on the label. in
long primer caps, arc not meeting the re-
| quirements. No matter how much artists
/ and architects initiate the old masters. any
| medicine manufacturer who attempts to
initiate the master work of some nostrum
i concoctor is perpetuating a fraud. The
manufacturer must be perfectly frank,
make his ingredients public and reveal
| trade secrets IL necessary.
1t has been proved beyond question that
authorizations exist; also that they are
frauds on the pocketbook rather than on
| the public health. Forced by competition.
the manufacturer has cheapened the foods
while not making them injurious. To do
/ this he sought the chemists aid, and he is
I now dependent upon the chemist TO get the
goods back to government specifications.
No matter how good the intention of the
manufacturer, his product is always liable
! to some changes Of which he knows moth
ing. BE they small or large, they are
serious, and under the law become adult
terations. TO prevent them he is depend
! ent upon the chemist BY periodical tests
! and examinations the chemist keeps the
manufacturer informed as to the standard
of his goods and holds him to the legal re-
quirements. These variations in quality
may be occasioned by flaws in the raw
material Foreign substances may enter
into the composition during the process OF
| making. Carelessness or laXity on the part
of an employer may allow grave discrepan-
cies in the receipt. The chemist, therefore,
is the only check the manufacturer has to
protect himself and the consumer
Just what the requirements will finally
be in many Of the foods is not yet known.
The commission has been holding a last
hearing this week, and from factories. lab
oratories and law Offices experts have been
hurrylng to Washington to get in parting
word for some particular classification.
There is a long list of the most common
adulterated goods in the custody of the
government experts, and strange as II may
seem, many Of these artificial products are
deemed just as good FOR public consump-
ton as the real article. Cnder the strict
Interpretation of the law however, they
are violations, and as such must be rectl-
( fed.
4 Few Authorizations
The government standard for lard Is rem
dered tat from slaughtered, healthy hogs,
and leaf lard IS that particular fat taken
from the inner lining Of the abdomen. Both
have To pass certain tests for fats and
acids, and-unnecessary to say-onc may
now buy lard put up In pals that nave7
was near a hog. MIX and its products are
very easily adulterated, and despite the
municipal inspections now being made an
oven the country, this article Of common
consumption Is the most tempered with,
ana sold for below standard. Mapl syrup,
the highly-prized product from the sap OF
the tee. Is very scarce and dear some
years. Manufacturers st around This
however by grinding raw sugar cane and
haVoring the extract with hickory bark
Maple syrup is adulterated by the use OF
glucose syrup, as is molasses.
Even honey is not beyond duplicating II
is said that a preparation has been made
and sold for honey that never had any hes
mediation IN IL, the comb being made oi
an. an --asN-