The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-07-01
COST OF LIVING
MADE HIGHER BY
PURE FOOD LAW
Huge Glucose Problem
Must Soon Be
S Ied.
Many New Regulations
Go Into Effect
Next Year.

The operations of the Federal pure
food law are plainly going to add stin
further to the cost Of living in Amer
lean homes
How much the increase will be can
only be estimated thus far. The manu-
facturers whose products and methods
will require 10 be changed in order TO
comply with new regulations can only
guess at the expense of the changes.
But speaking broadly. the use Of pre-
servatives, cOlOring matter. etc, has
made 1t possible to sell many staple
articles to the public for less money
than they can be sold when these are
not used; and the privilege OF disguis-
ing 70 some extent the actual contents
OF a package by putting on It label
that told only half the truth or per-
haps much less. made it possible 70 in
duce the public 10 consume much that
II would not have taken had it known
the truth.
Instance of Canned Goods.
But take the single list Of canned
fruits and vegetables, pickles. preserves,
jams, jellies. ketchups. and the like.
Coloring and preserving matters are
used In all these. Some manufacturers
indeed claim to produce them without
preservatlves; but the housewife who
wants to know how much is saved by
the privilege OF using these things will
be able to learn by asking her grocer
the difference in prices between the goods
that are guaranteed to be free from
these seaSOnings and those which are
not. She viii learn that for the greater
part the articles guaranteed 20 be free
OF such preservatives or colOring matter
constitute the limited aristocracy Of
food articles, at prices which make them
the luXuries Of the comparative few.
Pure Things Cheaper.
Doubtless when the regulations
against use of these alleged harmful
preservatives are generally enforced. as
they will be next year the prices OF
strictly pure articles will come down
somewhat, because they viii have to be
made in so much greater quantities.
But there is no doubt that the cost viii
be increased notably.
Many millions are invested in the can
ming and preserving business in this
country. The question Of how to handle
this industry was a very difficult one
ments passed. Secretary Wilson was
determined not to infict any more in
convenience than was absolutely un-
avoidable upon manufacturers. Accord
ingly it has been arranged that for the
packing Of vegetables, fruits. etc. Of
this years crop-contracts for which
were made largely before any reguia-
uons affecting them wereS ready-there
shall be no serious interference. with old
methods But when another years pack
is made it will have to be under the
new regulations
Presevatives Necessary
Take canned vegetables-tomatoes
corn, and the like. Most Of them con-
tain preservatives. The manufacturers
have in many cases insisted that with
out the preservative they could not be
put up 10 keep" But the pure food
authorities. recalling the canned fruits
and vegetables that mother used to
put up in the faI'' are of the opinion
that mothers processes, which don't in
volve the use either of paint nor Of eun-
balming fluid. can be adapted on the
larger scale required for big business.
ana The public viii get pure goods with
out any great addition 70 the price.
Only experience viii determine what the
effect will finally be-
Pie at any rate is going up whenever
sodlum oenzoate Is denied to the makers
OF the insides. The slice which noyy
sells ct cents will command 10 cents
and the 1O-cent portion will go for NOT
less than 10 cents, according 10 the dire
forecasts of the pie purveyOrs Pie will
become the luxury of the rich rather
than the staple Of the burgeoise dys-
peptic-
Huge Problem of Glucose.
Then there is the whole huge problem
Of glucose, on which the food author
tiles have not made rules yet. but which
must be looked after soon. In fact the
regulations regarding fits use and the
labelling Of packages or articles contain
ing II are now in the incubator at DR..
Wiley's laboratory. Glucose is one of
the biggest items in the country's pro-
duction Of food staples. but mighty
little Of Il is sold or used under its own
name. The question Of whether the
pubic viii buy the same articles when
the label explains the presence of the
glucose Is bit uncertain, but IL is ex-
pected there will be good deal of
prejudice and that people who feel Ii
them.
Meats are steadily going I'D in price
Win small chance of a considerable re-
action. How much the inspection and
fooo laws can be blamed is uncertain
Inc new rule OF the packers of buying
only subject TO post mortem inspeCtio5
is creoited with considerable effect.