The National tribune., 1909-04-08
THE BENzoATE OF SODA WAR.


The war over the use of benzoate of
soda is extending all over the country.
In Indiana, Judge Anderson, of the
United States Circuit Court, has re-
versed his former decision. A case came
before him on the complaint of Will
liams Brothers Co, of Detroit, and Cur
tice Brothers Co, of Rochester, against
Commissioner Barnard for publishing
their goods as unwholesome because of
the use of benzoate of soda. tenn
porary injunction was denied, on the
ground that the weight of evidence be-
fore the court was to the effect that
benzoate of soda was injurious. The
State then resisted the bill of complaint,
and laid great stress on the use of ben
Zoate of soda to conceal inferiority.
This demur was overruled by the court,
and now the question reverts as to
whether the use of benzoate is injurious
to health and the case is open for ar
gument on both sides.
The warmest struggle, however, is
going on in Pennsylvania, where there
is an attempt to pass food bill which
will allow the use of one-tenth of one
per cent of benZoate. This bill is sup
ported by the Dairy and Food Depart
| ment, the Attorney-General and the
local and State organizations of manu-
facturers, wholesalers and retailers. The
opposition to the bill largely comes from
the HeinZe Co., of Pittsburg, which take
the position that as it uses no benzoate
and finds none necessary it should not
have to compete with those who do.
The opposite side of the argument is
for the National Food Manufacturers
Association, and his principal antagon-
iSt is DR.. Charles II. laval, Pennsyl-
vania State Chemist. Mr.. Buckley con-
tends that the abolition of the use of
benzoate of soda will be a gross and
manufacturer and consumer, especially
| upon the poorer classes of the latter.
He says that benZoate cannot be made
to conceal rotten or immature products.
and that a pound of benZoate would
not save one single tomato. Much of
the goods sold are packed in 40-pound
cans. which are opened by the retailers
and sold from day to day until all is
gone. Without the benzoate this could
not be done, and large portion would
spoil in the dealers hands, thereby en-
hancing the cost of that which is sold; /;
also that goods preserved with benzoate
can be shipped in tin pals, where the
other had to go in glass, on which the
| freight is much heavier. Jams and jel-
lies packed in tin pals are sold to the
retailer at eight and a half cents a
pound, and are sold by him at from II
to IL cents per pound. Exactly the
same goods. if packed in glass in pound
jars. would cost s1.25 per dozen whole
| sale, or "A to Is cents per pound to the
customer. The freight on 40-pound
pail is 131s cents, or only one-third of
a cent per pound, while the freight on
the same goods packed in glass would
| be 29 cents. or one-half cent per pound.
inferior materials cannot be prevented
| by law, as was shown recently in the
[ rotten-egg crusade in Philadelphia. He
says that good goods without pre-
servative can be sold in bulk without
decay.
There is another important feature.
| Goods sold cheaply and in which a pre-
servative is used must have a large
quantity of water, whereas those in
which no preservative is used depend
for their keeping qualities on being
highly concentrated. In the cheaper
grade of jellies made by a well-known
manufacturer there is from As to 60
per cent of water; that is, each 100
pounds of jelly contain from SO to 60
pounds Of water. In those of a higher
grade and in which no preservative is
used the water only averages from Is
to 35 per cent. DR.. laval says that he
has seen samples of catsup which con-
tanned as high as four-tenths of one per
cent of benZoate become moldy after
few weeks exposure in cork-stop-
pered bottle, whereas properly prepared
catsup without a preservative has been
known to keep for months in an open
bottle. To the assertion that to compel
the Pennsylvania manufacturers to re-
frain from using benZoate will expose
them to dangerous competition with
manufacturers outside the State who
use the preservative, DIR. laval replies
that if the law is passed no dealer out
side the State will dare send in pre-
served goods nor any retailer sell them
A great many Of the food chemists of
| Transatlantic arc iOinjnp with Dr Ia
wall in advocating the passage of the
bill.