The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1907-07-19
PURE FOOD RULES.

PURE FOOD RULES.
For some time the grocery trade in
the United States has been nervous
because of uncertainty regarding the
attitude which the department of ag-
riculture might take upon certain
rules made by the new pure food laws.
The department has now spoken and
its attitude is a moderate one. 1t will
not be received with disfavor by the
grocery people,
Grocery dealers urged upon the de-
partment that there are some preserv-
atives and even some classes of dyes
specially prepared for the purpose
which are not unwholesome in proper
quantities and which are absolutely
necessary either for the manufacture
or preservation of the product. A de-
cision upon this point has not been
handed down. The board says that no
drug or chemical Of harmful or de-
leterious dye may be used. Common
salt, sugar, wood smoke, distilled
liquors, vinegar and condiments may
be used. For the present even the
use Of saltpetre is allowed. The de-
partment of agriculture, until further
in the case of the application of fumes
of burning sulphur, as usually en-
ployed in the manufacture of those
food products which contain acetalde-
hyde, sugars, and similar products
products with which sulphuric acid
may combine, If the total amount Of
sulphur dioXide in the finished product
does not exceed $50 milligrams per
liter in wines, or $50 milligrams per
kilogram in other food products Of
which not over 70 milligrams is in a
free state.
Another modification declares that
no prosecutions will be based on the
manufacture, sale, or transportation
of foods made or packed during this
year which contain sodium benzoate
in quantities not exceeding one-tenth
of one per cent or an equivalent of
have hitherto been generally used in
: those products.
This permits the current custom
provided it is not carried to excess, but
: does not allow the same privilege to
new manufactures. 1t is required,
however, that the label of each pack
age shall bear a statement that the
food is preserved with sulphur dioXide
or with sodium benzoate or benzoic
| acid as the case may be, but the label
cannot bear the serial number nor a
statement that the article is guaran-
teed under the food and drugs act.
5 On the other hand, it is officially
announced that the use in food for
any purpose of any mineral dye or
> any coal tar dye will be grounds for
l prosecution except that for the pres
: ent certain coal tar dyes made specif
) ically for use in foods which bear a
: guarantee from the manufacturer that
they are free from subsidiary products
n and represent the actual substance
? the name of which they bear, may be
g used in foods 1t is required, however
S that certificate that the dye has beer
t tested and found free from harmful
|, constituents must first be approved by
n the secretary of agriculture.
S 1t is expressly stated by the board
II for the instruction of the trade, bu
Il more particularly for the satisfaction
l. of the public, that these concession!
e quoted above must be construed IL
!? connection with the regulation which
e provides that poisonous and deleteri
6 GUS preservatiyes shall only be applied
+ externally and that personalities il
food products shall be of such a char
n acter as shall not permit their permea
1t tion to any portion of the interior
Sc 1t is already provided in the regula
e tons, also, that the food product
a. which are to go abroad may contain
t. added substances not permitted Il
ID foods intended for use in this country
Of provided the addition does not COZ
ID flict with the laws of the country t
IN which the food is to be exported, an
rt when such substances are added in az
lie cordance with the direction of tn
foreign purchaser or his agents.
In has been finally announced also by tn
ed board, which will be good news t
In manufacturers and dealers, that n
&c prosecution will be based on the sal