The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-03-29
eeNzoATE OF SODA.

Some time ago this paper made
editorial comment on the use of benzo-
ate of soda in foods. TO which objec-
tion has been made by E. e. Smith
of 26 East Twenty-ninth street, New
York, who sends us the following
statement "in order that our readers
may have an opportunity Of reading
the other side:"
To the Editor; The preservative
question, more especially regarding
the influence on health OF sodium
benzoate. may be considered from a
different point OF View than that taken
In your recent editorials. You state
that the experiments OF the referee
board extended over period of four
months while those conducted in the
Department of Agriculture extended
over nearly year The facts are that
the department subjects each received
SIS grams or less Of benzoIc acid or so
dunn benzoate during twenty days and
in supplementary study 1875 grams
during ten days, while the subjects of
the referee board each received about
125 grams of sodium benzoate during
ninety days. Furthermore, the results
in the two series arc in substantial
agreement | clearly pointed out, be-
fore the report of the referee board
was announced (Medical Record. Jan.
2, 1909, p 16), the evidence presented
in Bulletin "a. Part ". does not estab-
llsh any Injurious effect OF benzoic
acid and the benzoates; there was
simply an error in the Interpretation
of the results.
II is fair to believe that board COM
posed Of men of such scientific attain
ments and unimpeachable reputation
has employed the degree Of caution in
the wording OF their decision that the
results call for, When, therefore, they
state as a general conclusion: 80
dunn benzoate In small doses (under
O.5 gram per day. mixed with the food
Is without deleterious OF poisonous
acSon and is not injurious to health"
1T Is difficult TO understand why the
verdict Is not positive and to the point.
I believe those capable Of appreciate
ing 1t without bias see In this report
the conclusion that benzoates in them
selves are harmless.
Those who have opposed the use of
sodium benzoate on the score that 1T
Is harmful now declare that It's use
is Objectionable because 1t may cover
inferior raw material This Is an eva
sion of the original point and obvious
" an after-thought, furthermore, 1t Is
not supported by any evidence, All
physicians and food experts are agreed
that Objectionable raw material should
not he used in the preparation of food.
AS TO that, however, the very use OF
this preservative tends to raise the
quality rather than lower it, as appears
from a consideration of the catsup in
dustry. Here tomato pulp Is kept for
a variable interval pending the prepar-
alton Of the final product. Sodium
benzoate causes the pulp after one
cooking 10 keep without fermentation
or molding When n preservative Is
not used frequent cookings are nee
essary; moreover. masses Of mold
must be removed by strafning This
has the effect of making the final
product more concentrated but re-
moves the fresh vegetable flavor and
hence impairs the continental value
of the product 1t is stated that In this
concentrated form the purchaser re-
ceives greater value. but as catsup Is
a condiment. not a food in the caloric
sense. the loss of vegetable flavor de-
tracts immeasuTably more than the
greater concentration adds to It's
value. Indeed, the whole argument
against sodium produces the impress
sion of an effort to mlslead the public
rather than to give due regard to the
facts. e f. SMITH, NJ. D, New York.