The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1907-09-21
FOR HEALTH's SAKE
SEE THAT YOUR FooDsTuFFs
ARE PURE.
ADULTERATIONs ARE COMMON
unserupuIous Dealers In Large cities
the Medium for pisposlna Of
Such ooods-Purehsse
az Home.

For years one OF the matters which
has received the careful attention OF
the department OF agriculture is food
adulteration. Who has not heard OF
the old libel on the state OF Connect
cut-the wooden nutmeg, but there
are worse things than wooden nut
megs Unprincipled manufacturers
and dealers for many years have re-
sorted 10 adulteration OF foodstuffs TO
Increase profits. In the matter OF
spices. only a short time since the
food commission OF one OF the states
discovered among 80 samples analysed
more than 30 that were adulterated.
In pepper. stems and barks were
ground. in every class OF ground
spice foreign substances were added
20 give weight. and In numerous cases.
particularly fiayoring extracts, the ar.
ticles supposed 10 be made from pure
fruits. were found 90 be syntheucal.
or entirely artificial preparations
from coal tar
These goods were prepared by con-
Germs that have no regular trade, but
depend upon agents 10 sell goods for
them 10 whoever they can II Is rare
~ that a reliable wholesale grocery
house sells such goods, as retailers
Will not knowingly keep them in
stock, as they cannot be legally sold.
and some officer OF the food depart.
ment OF the state Is likely 10 drop into
the store az any time, confiscate the
goods. and impose heavy fine on the
dealer.
A short time ago health officers In
Philadelphia found a number OF Ital.
ians in a cellar putting oil in bottles.
and labelling the same with a foreign.
looking label. An analysis Of the oil
proved II 10 be mainly poor quality
OF cotton-seed oil, and the lowest
grade OF olive Hundreds OF cases
OF the stun were traced 10 a city in
the middle west. where Il was dis
posed OF under contract 10 houses who
sell direct 10 consumers through
agents and by mail Not alone are
spices. extracts, olive oil and sim
liar foodstuffs adulterated this way.
but the fraud extends still further.
Cheap kinds OF fish. such as hake, cat.
fish, etc. are prepared and placed on
the market as genuine Goldfish Toma-
20 catsups are made OF a good quality
OF pumpkin and given the right color
by dye stuffs. and favored by the
use OF coal tar extracts Hundreds OF
other articles are "doctored" the same
way. II Is rarely that such artificial
goods find their way into the hands
OF regular grocors throughout the
country. but are disposed OF by con
Germs who depend upon doing bust.
ness az points distant from their loca.
ton, and who seek protection in the
Interstate commerce law, and who
seek 70 dispose OF their goods directly
10 the consumers as no federal or
state officer Is likely TO call al a pr.
waite house and make an analysis Of
foods used
II seeing that neither the national
or state laws can be so closely ap.
piled as 70 prevent this evil II the
masses Of people would study into this
question the buying Of foods from
others than local dealers. who are
known 10 be honest. would be the re-
suit, and the daily reports Of people
being mysteriously poisoned BY eating
some article OF food would not be 40
numerous.