Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-11
PURE FOOD LAWS
WELL ENFORCED
INSPECTORS DISPLAY GREAT
ZEAL IN PROSECUTING
NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FILED
AND MORE EXPECTED
REPORTS from other Portions Of State
Show That Campaign Is Being
Waged with Much
Vigor

During the past week there have
been prepared and filed in the town
ship courts of Los angeles county halr
a hundred or more complaints charging
violations of what are known as the
Mccartney pure food laws. One-f1ftn
of the number of person charged In
these complaints have been arrested
and paid fines of from $25 to $50, en-
riching the county's treasury to that
extent and benefting, beyond any pos
sible monetary consideration the coun-
tvs inhabitants by guarding them
against the dangerous and other pol
sonous substances contained in foods
which, on analysis by the state chemist
at Sacramento have been found unit
for consumption.
These complaints were prepared by
Senator H. S. G.. Mccartney, deputy
district attorney, father of the pure
food laws of this state, who has begun
an earnest campaign against prohibited
foods and liquors. Nearly 100 more
complaints are being prepared, and the
search among shelves and soda foun-
tains and other places where prepara-
tions which may contain deleterious
substances are sold, Is still being car
ried on.
Crusade Statewide
From other parts of the state come
reports that the warfare against poi
sonous foods and drinks, sold under
palatable disguise, is being waged,
while in San Francisco those in charge
of the work of sanitation are specially
active. In a letter received yesterday
from l.. S. Schmitt, acting assistant
surgeon commanding the second sani-
tary division of San Francisco, Senator
Mccartney is requested to forward a
number of copies of the pure food laws
as recently amended, and the informa-
--axK sl.ak Of 1nd
great help to those in charge of the
work.
The pure food laws were approved
in 1907 and amended by the last legis-
lature. The law as originally passed
is familiar to manufacturers. whole
salers and retailers of food. which last
word as employed in the act includes
mails for food, drink. liquor, confec-
tionery or condiment. whether simple.
mixed or compound.
As Amended This Year
The original act was amended this
year in only two particulars, the first
amendment prohibiting the delivery,
for pay or otherwise, of artificially col
ored vinegar, or vinegar that does not
conform to the standard of purity as
proclaimed by the secretary of the
United States department of agricui-
erence to the sale of adulterated and
un1abeled goods, and is as follows:
'Tf, having no label, the food is ar
imitation or adulteration, or is sold or
offered for sale under a name, desig-
nation or description or representation
which is false or misleading in any
particular whatever; and in case OF
eggs and poultry, If they have been
kent or packed in cold storage or 9TH
erwise preserved, they must be so IN
dicated by written or printed label or
placard plainly designating such fact
when offered or exposed for sale.
The last legislature also passed an
other law which was approved by
Governor Gillett the 9th of last month.
providing for the sanitation of food
producing establishments and places
where food is handled, regulating the
health of persons handling the pre-
pared or finished food products and
providing for inspection of such places
and persons.
For Sanitary Premises
BY other terms of this act 1t is pro-
vided that places occupied or used as
bakeries. confectioneries, canneries,
packing houses, restaurants, groceries,
meat markets or other apartments used
for the handling of food shall be prop
erly lighted, drained, plumbed and ven
tilated, and conducted with strict re-
gard to the influence of such condltlons
on the health of operatives and other
persons employed, and on the purity
and wholesomeness of the food pro-
duced in these establishments.
Floors, sidewalks, ceilings, furniture,
implements and machinery of food
handling establishments must be kept
in a clean and sanitary condition at all
times. and dirt and waste products sub
ject to fermentation must be removed
dailv. while persons employed in these
places are expected to wear clean cloth
ing.
The covering with metal or lumber
of side walls and ceilings of bakeries,
confectioneries and hotel and restau-
rant kitchens is required, and 1t is pro-
vided that all woodwork in these places
must be kept clean with soap and wa
ter. Stationary or self-closing screen
doors and wire window screens of not
more than fourteen mesh wire gauze
must be used.
Other Safeguards Provided
The law also provides that no per-
son shall be allowed to sleep in places
where food is prepared. manufactured
served or sold, and prohibits employers
from allowing any person afflicted with
infectious or contagious diseases from
working in establishments where food
is handled.
A fine of $25 to $500, or Imprisonment
in the county Jail for a term not ex-
ceeding six months, is provided as a
penalty for violation of the law.
oaunr onAuro 7A1nI