Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-05-10
a PLEA FOR PURE FOOD
Bx Pau. Pierce, Editor

J i
The wave Of public sentiment in OPP
position to chemically preserved foods
that has arisen through the Benzoate
x of soda agitation. exceeds the public in-s
dignatian of a few years ago over the
embalnled beef scandal Of the Spanish
war and tho Packing town' tales Of
Upton Sinclair. And not without am
pie reason for recent government ac-
tion permits the use of this drug mum
limited quantities in all our food sup
plies, at the will and convenience OF
the unscrupulous rAainufacturer. IL
may now be used in milk, butter,
cheese, meat. fish, canned goods and
condiments, and for the time being,
eternal watchfulness on the part OF the
people must be the price of safety.
Tricked by the administrative, operation
of food law, that was passed by
| force Of public sentiment and against
the strenuous opposition of certain
classes of manufacturing interests, the
public must now make Its own food law
by determining against doubtful brands
OF prepared foods. And the people are
being heard from. Millions OF intelli-
| gent consumers are arraying them
selves on tile side of strict food purity
and the protection of the public health,
| while the press OF the country has
shown remarkable manimity and NOR
| al courage In turning its batteries
| against the food adulterator and COR
rupt politician in an ardent effort to
| bring about a pure food era
Furthermore, the medical fraternity
| has never shown a more united front
on any question: than in condenning
| the use of benzoate OF soda in food pre-
| paration. Physicians know its irrita-
| ting effect upon the digestive organs
and the extra labor that it places upon
| the Kidneys They know that In Its
| cheaper grades, those in .commercal
| use, it Is either a dangerous extract
| from coal tar or has its disgusting
basis OF manufacture in animal refuse.
| They also know that its use is not to
preserve good material. but to permit
| the working Off upon the people a. re-
fuse by product of meat, fruits and veg
| etables usually In q state of disgusting
| filth and senli-rottenness, and to avoid
! the necessity of decent sanitation in
manufacture.
Not only are thousands of physicians.
uttering protests against the govern
! ment action that has nullified one OF
| the most important provisions of tho
national food law, for which so much
! had been hoped and promised, but wo-.
| mems clubs and other organizations
| are actively discussing it. while the
! legitimate food manufacturing inter
! eStS are organizing 10 sItntect the good
| name and reputation Of the great pre-.
pared food industry and the associate.
State Dairy and Food commissions are
renewing their activity toward securing
a reform that will be real and lasting.
-
Five thousand years ago, the Egyp-
/ tians embalmed their dead. Then came
| at least IL partial cessation from the use
| Of chemical personalities; until of late
| years, when capftalistic greed and graft
! have administered poison to the people
with meat and over-ripe fruit and veg
stable refuse, preserved with benzoate
I of soda.
The arguments handed out to the In
nocent consumer by men commercially
| interested in chemicals. and their use
| In foods are misleading, as they ara
based on the fact that the amount Of
chemicals used in preservation of a sin
gle article of food is not enough to
| poison a person. This is deceptive in
| that it is not a matter OF actually kill.
ing a consumer, but OF fnsidiously In
PRODUCING into his system in various
! foods. various chemicals calculated to
| gradually undermine health. without
| his choice or knowledge Also the
greater evil is becoming known TO many
consumers, that of the preservation by
! menns Of chsrnicals of spoilipg raw ma