Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-05-13
What the Manufacturers Don't
Tell Hbout Benzodte of Soda
wholesome


goods.
Yet II is probably too much TO nope
that commercial cupidity VIII yleiu
entirely without the direct ana pos
tive intervention OF the law, because
of the extreme cheapness OF this can
merry waste and the consequent proflt
derlvable from working it up. AS long
as the average cannery is nnprovided
with ample sausage facilities and an
actual expense attends the disposal
of its garbage, II is OF course, mat
ter Of economy to be able TO ship the
refuge away to the cheap ketchup and
soup maker, who gets it at about the
cost of freight and handling. and IL
is the class of manufactures using THIS
material who protests that he actu-
ally cannot get along without tenzo-
ate of soda and remain in business.
In the meantime, t.ose Ieact. onafy
food manufacturing interests, whose
influence over certain government
officials has been so powerful. are find
ing only hollow triumph. The people
are fast learning that the acceptance
or rejection of foods embalmed VITA
zensoate of soda. is matter OF indl-
vidual choice. This choice is possible
because those manufacturers who use
benzoate are stll compelled by me
law to show its presence on the labti
1t is rather significant that this state
ment always appears in small. obscure
type. but the discriminating consumer
is looking for it and when it Is found,
the retail grocer-as well as the
restaurant man-speedily learns that
the demand is for. foods that a-e pure.
If the person who eats food in res
taurants, or serves catsup on has own
table. were to read on the labels OF
ca,sup bottles. or jars Of preserves
and pickles-"The Benzoate OF Soda
used in preserving this iru:t o. ycSe-
table is derived from benZoic acid,
made irom~the urine of horses anu
CATTLE he might perhaps Ia, nause-
ated to the point of bestirring himself
q little on the pure food question.
As a matter of fact, the regulation
which compeis manufacturers to
state on labels the fact that benzoate
of soda is used, is an excellent one;
but il might go a sep further and en-
tighten the public regarding what
particular elements they are consum-
ing in their preserved foods
Professor Hull, chemist of Pennsyl-
vania State Dairy and Food Commits
sion. in a recent article well says: III
the manufacturer of food product
were required to state uron the label
one of the alternatives suggested by
Professor Lloyd. as follows:
Il. The benzoa;e used in preserv-
ing this fruit is derived from Denzo-
ic acid made from the urine of horses
ard cattle, or
80. The benzoate used in preserv-
ing this fruit is derived from coal tar.
Or
-. The benzoa,e used in presery-
ing this fruit is derived from gim
benzoin-there is little doubt as 10
which of these labels manufacturers
would prefer to use. But IL, realiz-
ing the relative price of these pro-
ructs, the benzoic acid derived from
gum l'enzoin being worth $3.50
pound. as compared 20 so cents a
pound for the other two varieties.
how long do you think it would take
the manufacturer to make up his mind
to so change his method as TO make
II possible to send his goods out witt
out any preservatiyes whatever
1t is to be hoped that when Con-
gress meets in regular session. the
many champions of food purity
among it's members will become ac-
tive in securing an amendment to
the national law which will settle the
question OF food purity and place IL
beyord the reach OF any mischevious
department rulings to permit the en-
balming of cur food supplies for all
times