East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-09-26

The state Of oregon, for instance,
has It's own pure food laws, and its
own state dairy and food commission.
These laws and the state commission
are amply able to attend to all tho
state work without the aid Of the
federal government
A Portland manufacturing compa-
ny may put on the market an abso-
lutely pure, wholesome product, or a
grossly adulterated one. SO long as
these articles are sold within the state
Of Oregon the federal government
pays no attention to them, this be-
ing a matter for the state dairy and
food commissioner to look after.
However, If this Portland firm sent
their manufactured product into an
other state, then the federal govern
ment would become Immediately in
terested and might take a hand in
the matter
Study Foreign Samples.
The government has a plumber Of
expert food inspectors, who are con-
stantly studying interstate shipments
OF food stuffs, and from time to time
they are taking samples of such ship
ments. These samples are sent to
the federal laboratories for analysis.
As result Of these analysis of in
terstate samples, hearings are being
held in different parts of the country
and manufacturers and dealers are
being called upon for information
pertaining to certain interstate cases
Of food or drug products; and from
time 10 time fines are being imposed
upon parties found guilty Of yiolat-
ing the law.
At the present time the department
Of agriculture Is issuing a series Of
leaflets known as Notice Of Judg-
ment" Each Of these relates to
some particular case or violation of
the food and drugs act, giving in de-
tail the history Of the case and the |
Of the court; that is, whether |
has been suspended or pro-
II the latter. the amount |
of the sentence, or fine imposed is
published
wish to say a few words concern
ing serial number guarantees, as this
Is very seldom understood by the
public. Most manufacturers place a
abel on their goods reading as fol-
ows: Guaranteed under the Food |
md Drugs Act, June 80, 1906" This
phrase is accompanied by a serial
number or a so-caled guaranty num-
Der.
Many people when purchasing
goods. such ms a can of baking pow.
Ter. for example. and reading upon
he label the phrase, Guaranteed
inder the Food and Drugs Act, June
30, 1906" think that this amounts to
guaranty by the federal govern
nent: that the government experts
ave examined the goods and found
hem TO comply with the law. Moth
ng could be farther from the truth.
rhe government experts have not ex-
,mined the goods and the govern
nent does not guarantee them to be
cure.
What Guarantee Means.
The phrase Guaranteed under the
Food and Drugs Act, June 80, 1906"
serial number G50, for instance),
means simply this and nothing more:
hat the manufacturer has made ap-
)lication to the United States depart
nent of agriculture, bureau of
chemistry for a serial number of
and that he (the manufac-
urer) takes oath that his goods are
1ure and not adulterated nor mis-
branded within the meaning Of the
'ood and drugs act, June 80, 1905.
In other words, the manufacturer as
umes all responsibility for his goods
the retailer need assume none.
The serial number guarantee pro-
ects the retailer just as much as
personally written guarantee from
no manufacturers Retailers of