The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-16
FIGHT FOR ITS LIFE.
Kansas Pure Food Law Will Be
Tested.

| The Kansas pure food law will now
have to fight for it's life in the courts
of the state. The very first prosecutions
which have been brought will be vigor-
| ously contested by the accused parties.
| The suits will involve the right of meat
dealers to put 'embalming fluid" into
hamburger steak.
The state pure food commissioner has
already had a dozen or more dealers
| in various parts of the state arrested
for selling embalmed hamburger. The
first cases were brought at Lawrence,
and the case is set for hearing In the
Justice court on November 25 At the
meeting of the state board of health
Yesterday. it was voted that Charles D.
WEIGH, attorney for the board, should
cooperate with the county attorney OF
Douglas county in the prosecution OF
the offenders. The state pure FOOD au-
thorities realize that the cases at Law
renee will be a test of the strength OF
the board to enforce the provisions OF
the pure food law and that they must
be prosecuted with all possible vigor.
1t is supposed that the manufacturers
who sell the "embalning fluid" to the
butchers will take a hand in the case,
and help the dealers who are arrested.
It is of interest to the manufacturerS Oh
the fluid to smash the law, SO that they.
NAV continue to sell their product With
ont interference It is of great import
ance to the retail dealers who nave
been caught selling embalmeo NAM
burger that the law should be knocked
out. because the penalty for doping
meat in the process of manufacture OF
hamburger is an offense which lays the
butcher liable to fine OF $Soo' ana a
Jail sentence of year.
It is expected that the chiet con-
tention of the butchers and grocers
who have gotten themselves into trou-
Bile will be that presence of boracid
acid. salacylic acid, or whatever pre-
seryative may be used in the ham
burger, is not injurious to healtn.
They will say that they use the pre-
sentative in such small Quantltles lnat
it is not dangerous.
The law says: at shall be unlawful
for any person to manufacture Wltnln
the state of Kansas any article or 1000
or drugs, medicines or liquors which
is aduIterated or misbranded or
which contains any poisonous or de-
leterious substance, within the mean
ing of this act.
The law also provides that a food
shall be deemed to be adulterated II
it be mixed, colored, powdered, coat
ed or stained in manner whereby
damage or inferiority is concealed, or
If it contain any added poisonous, or
other added deleterious ingredient
which may render sucn artlcle lnJur-
ious to health.
Nevertheless, there is some dis
agreement among the food experts
to the positive harm which results to
the human body from eating small
Quantities of preservatives While it
is likely that the small quantity of
preservatives which might be eaten in
hamburger would be harmless, If the
same quantity was permitted in all
food stuffs, the chances are that Sc
rious injury to health might be pro-
duced. For that reason the food
authorities take the ground that pre-
servatives must be entirely eliminated |
from foods.
burger, the meat is kept fresh for a |
much longer time than would other |
wise be possible. 1t also retains a |
red, fresh appearance, and is more |