Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-08-31
FOOD LAW STRINGENT
Merchants VIII Have Troubles
Next Year.
STATUTES WIDE SWEEP
ANY Authorizations, Misrepresentation
or Deterioration Of Value Are VIC
Internationally Is Heavy.

or Deterioration OF Value Are VIC
Internationally Is Heavy.
In speaking of the new pure food
law, a well known attorney said: The
new statute is very stringent, and has
a broad sweep. 1t gives the prose
cutting attorney powers which, If not
exercised with moderation and dis
erection might cause annoyance OF the
~severest character to business men.
For instance, the prosecuting attorney
of a county can go into a store room,
any part of ii, and open any box, pack
age, barrel, bottle, or any other recep-
tacle, which contains, drugs or foods
that are adulterated or impure.
HE may take samples Of the con
tents and the chemist of the state agri-
cultural department must analyse
these samples, and certify the result
to the prosecutor. In case adultera-
ton Is found, or impurities, or if the
contents Is not just what it is repre-
scented TO be, the merchant handling
the goods. or his agent, or both, may
be Indicted, and upon proper evidence,
convicted. The prosecutor has like
powers and privileges in any labo-
ratory or factory where foods, or drugs
are manufactured.
The law OF course overs all drugs,
patent medicines and similar stuffs.
E%xtravagent claims for the strength
andcura tive value Of a medicine will
not go. Preparations that are com
pounds or mixtures must be labelled
as such. The label must be in letters
at least half as large as the largest on
the bottle. Preparations containing
alcohol. choral. morphine or similar
drugs must show this fact and the per
cen Of each.
West Virginia had a pure food
law previous to this act, but it was
not so wide in its scope, and PROV
ided that the merchants could not be
indicted and fined for selling impure
goods unless he made the sale know
ingly.' In the new law, The word
knowingly" has been ommitted. In
other words, ignorance of the charac-
ter Of the impure or adulterated or
inferior goods is no longer an excuse.
The merchant must know that his
goods are pure. and just what they are
represented to be. Sugar must be
sugar pure and unadulterated. Native
products cannot be sold as imported
goods, and the manufacturer cannot
make raspberry jam from apple peel
ings and cover and timothy seed"
Any substance mixed with food,
drink OF connections. lowering, depre,
ciatlng, or iniuriosly effecting its pual-
ity. strength, or purity. or the omis-
sion of any necessary ingredient con.
stitute violations. In other words,
aeetic acid mixed with water is not
pure cider vinegar"
II is a violation TO arrange goods
so as 10 conceal their i%nferiority.
Pink netting over a basket of green
peaches TO give them the blush of
ripeness will not go. II will not do
to coat, powder. or polish CONNECTIONS
TO make them look better thar they
are. There must be no labels indi-
eating a purity that does not exist, or
bearing anv fau'se claims for the food
value Of the stun.
The penalty for the sale or offer
ing for sale of such goods is a fine
of from $50 TO 800 for the first Of
Tense, and a similar fine, with from
20 TO go DAYS Imprisonment for each
subsequent. Upon conviction, the de-
PENDENT is required to pay all the costs
Of analysis, prosecution and inspection
into the county treasury. For each con.
viction. the prosecutor is to receive a
fee Of 500. in no other misdemeanor
is a Zee Of more than Sl0 provided.