Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-13
FOOD REGULATIONS
GOVERNING USE OF DYES AND
PRESERVATIVES.

The Department of Agriculture yesterday
afternoon promulgated regulations govern
ing the use of benzoate OF soda and sulphur
foods, which regulations were prepared by
the board Of food and drug inspection and
approved by the Secretaries of Agriculture
Treasury and Commerce and Labor.
In accordance with the provision of law
that food products shall not contain SUBJ
stances which lessen their wholesorleness
orders We're issued that 10 drug, Chem
ical or deleterious dye or preservative
should be used. Protests coming in great
numbers from the National Food Associa-
ton and the California fruit packers caused
the federal authorities to temporarily with
hold Its regulations. The statement now
issued permits the use of common salt,
sugar, wood smoke, potable distilled liquors
and condiments, and pending further inyes-
uSation the use OF saItpetcr.
No Prosecutions.
Pending the investigation of the condi-
tions attending processes OF manufacture
and the effects upon health 10 prosecutions
will be instituted in the case of the applica-
ton of fumes of burning sulphur Sulphur
dioxide as usually applied in the manufac-
ture of foods which contain acetaldehyde
sugars, etc, with hich sulphurous acid
may combine If the total amount Of sulphur
dioXide in the finished pro3,ict does not ex-
coed $50 mllligrams per liter liz wines, or
800 milligrams per kilogram in other food
products, of which not over 20 ;ail.igramS
are iE a free state.
Under like conditions sodium be1zoate in
quantities not exceeding one-tentn OF l per
cent, or ben2oic ac.d equivalent thereto, pro-
vided sodium benZoate or benzoic acid has
heretofore been generally used in such foods
or food products.
The regulations declare that the label of
each package o: sulDhured foods or of foods
shall bear a statement that the food is
preserved with sulphur dioXide or with sodi-
UNI benzoate or berzoc acid, as the case
may be. ard the label must rot bear a
serial number assigned 10 any guaranty
filed with the Department Of Agriculture
nor any statement that the article is guar
anteed to conform to the food and drugs
act.
Certain coal tar dyes bearing a guarantee
from the manufacturer that they are free
from subsidiary products and represent the
actual substance the name of which they
bear may be used after having been tested
and found free from harmful constituents.
Greened Vegetables With Copper.
The question of the entry into the United
States OF vegetables greened with copper
salts has not been finally determined. Pend
ing the determination and decision of this
matter by the Secretary of Agriculture all
vegetables greened with copper salts which
do not contain an excessive amount of cop
per will be admitted to entry if the label
bears statement that sulphate Of copper
or other copper salts have been used.
No prosecution will be based on the sale
Of foods and food products manufactured or
packed in the United States prior to the is
suing of this decision where the compost
ton of such foods and food products is at
variance with the requirements of this de-
cision. If the nature of the variation be
plainly stated on the label. In every case.
however, the burden of proof will be on the
manufacturer to show that the goods were
manufactured or packed prior to the date
of this decision.