The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-07
MILLERS ARE WARNED.
Must Keep Up Standard in Weight of
Packages.

Formal notice to the millers of Kan
sas Is being sent out today by the
chief food inspector Of the state that
the practice of putting less than 4s
pounds into sack of flour alleged tc
contain a quarter barrel, and similar
shortages for other weights, must be
stopped.
Many tests which have been made
by the inspectors of the pure food de-
partment have shown that it is a COM
mon practice to put less than the al
legged weight into original packages OF
flour. This constitutes misbranding
and renders the miller liable to heavy
penalties.
Even though the flour sack itself is
not branded for any special weight
the real weight must conform to the
weight alleged in the invoice. Flour
which goes out without any brand, OF
without any statement as to it's con-
tents, does not have to contain any
particular amount. The expectation is
that unless a sack of flour is branded
customer will demand that the flour be
weighed and charged for by weight
This will force the millers to brand
their -four, and come within the scope
of the pure food department.
The letter OF warning sent out to 400
Kansas millers today is as follows:
ITO the Millers of Kansas:
This department has been making
an extensive investigation of the
weights of sacks of -four of various
sizes and kinds. that have been found
in the hands of the retail trade and OF
the mills where packed. Some of these
sacks had been packed for several
months, others a shorter time, and 9TH
ers the day they were weighed by our
inspectors. Almost all the flour pack
oil 1ov fxrvo
short in weight, from 8 ounces to Z
pounds on one-quarter barrel sacks
and the majority of that packed the
day of weighing was found short in
weight, both net and gross.
THE Kansas food and drugs law re-
quires that where a statement of weight
is made, it must be the true net weight
and it matters not whether that state
ment is made on the sack by branding
or on the bill of invoice of sale. If q
quarter barrel of flour is sold or sack
ed and offered for sale as such, each
such sack must contain 40 pounds OF
flour, exclusive of the weight Of the
sack. If a 48 pound sack of flour OF
meal is branded or sold as such, it must
contain 48 pounds Of flour net.
This department permits slight
variation in weights, provided that this
variation Is as often above as below
the weight required in the packages
of freshly packed flour. 1t is also pro-
per to allow for reasonable loss OF
weight due to evaporation of moisture,
and waste by leakage in shipping. The
loss which may be considered a rea-
sonable amount will be determined by
special investigation, and by consid-
Grafton of the experience of millers and
others in the past.
1.-THE claim Of some millers that a
large variation below the stated weight
should be allowed because of the evap-
grafton of moisture which they them
selves added during the process of
grinding will be contested.
I'VE trust that we may have your
earnest cooperation in the enforce
ment Of the law, which while protect
ing the consumer, will also secure you
freedom from unfair and illegal COM
petition. Very truly yours,
IS. j. CRUMBINE, M. D.,
"Chief Food and Drug Inspector"