Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-27
REMSEN BOARD
SUPPORTED BY
FOOD EXPERTS
REPORT OF ROOSEVELT COM
MISSION lND0RSED
RENZoATE OF SODA DECLARED
HARMLESS PREsERVATlVE
Experts on Edibles Urge States to
Work In Harmony to Make
Laws Which Will Benz
eft Consumers
[By Associated Press ]

[By Associated Press.l
n ENVER, Aug. 26.-President Rocse-
velts famous Remsen referee
81 board Of consulting scientific eX-
/ perts" was indorsed by the convention
| of the association of state and national
food and dairy departments today.
/ After a fight in which the term med
icated garbage was used' the assocl-
alton approved of the use of benzoate
of soda as a food preserYatiVe. The
| resolution of approval was adopted by
a vote of 81 to AZ.
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson was
an attentive spectator but was not a
delegate.
Voicing the sentiment of other op-
posing states, DR.. j. 5. Crumbine OF
/ Kansas said the time had not come
when the people should accept as final
! the statement that benzoate of soda is
| a harmless perserYatiVe. He believed
the resolution offered should be made
more conservative and thus allow fur
ther study of the subject.
A committee which had been appoint
ed to Investigate the Remsen board
previously had reported adversely to
the boards findings, declaring that
/ benzoate of soda promoted the prac-
tice Of concealing iusanitary methods,
and calling on President Taft to instl-
tnte another investigation on broader
lines"
The resolution as adopted urges that
more drastic laws relative to the label
ing of oleomargarine be passed by con-
gress.
Want Tax Not Reduced
That congress be asked not to reduce
the tax on colonel oleomargarine.
That every state be urged to work in
harmony in regard to the national
pure food laws.
trbo+ +ba governr1ent institute fur
ther investigations leading to purer
foods.
That the association eliminate from
its program any discussion of what is
whisky?" pending a settlement OF that
question at washington.
That President Taft, former Presl-
dent Roosevelt, the secretaries of ag-
riculture, of commerce and labor ana
of the treasury be commended for their
efforts to perfect the federal pure FOOD
laws
Nathan straus of New York sent
communication asking the commission
ers to fight the sale of tuberculosis-ln-
| fected milk
The association will adjourn tomor-
| row after the election of officers
! George L. Flanders of Albany, N. Y,
| is the probable choice for president
Benzoate of Soda Harmless
Benzoate of soda as the preserva-
| tive most commonly used in manu-
featuring food products was put on
trial before the convention of the as
| sociation of today. The opposing
forces were the governments chemical
experts, including members OF the
Remsen referee board, which con-
tended that benzoate was harmless,
| and some Of the 200 state food com
missioners and agriculturists dele
gates to the convention. Secretary or
Agriculture James Wilson was an IN
terested spectator. Near him sat DR..
Ira Remsen of Baltimore, Dr. RusseIl
H Chittenden of New Haven, Or.
John H. Long of Evanston, Ill, ana
DIR. Christian H. Herter of New York
citv. all members of the referee board
of consulting scientific experts ap-
pointed by President Roosevelt to
settle disputed points in the federal
pure food law. Each member of the
board present read a paper uphold1ng
their previous conclusion made to the
government, that benzoate when used
in food in moderate quantities Is
harmless,
The position taken by Mr.. Emery
and his followers. as announced by
them, is, IF there is any doubt as to
the harmfulness of chemicals in food,
the public should have the benefit of
the doubt That there is a doubt is
the belief of many competent scien-
lists"
Declares Against Benzoate
AS showing that benzoate does not
cover up inferiority, Dr. Long SAID
/ he had made catsup out of rotton
/ tomatoes, apples, peaches and banan-
las In one portion was put vinegar
and spices and in another benzoate,
/ and the only portion which tasted
good was that in which vinegar and
! spices had been mixed.
! The federal government was accused
of licensing the sale of ''medicated
food fit only for the sewer"
Dr. Charles A. L. Reed of Cincinnati,
in attacking the famous Remsen
referee board of scientific experts, de-
carcd the board, in urging the govern
ment to allow the use of benzoate OF
soda as a food preserVatiVe, had lg-
nored the public welfare.
THAT recommendation to the de-
partment of agriculture benefited only
two classes of people" asserted DR..
/ Reed "These We're the manufacturers
Of benzoate of soda and the manu-
/ facturers Of food of such character
that could not be sold without being
preserved by the addition of chemi-
cal.
"The public received no benefit but
/ instead had it's own government
licensing food for its consumption
which had to be medicated and which
otherwise would be fit only for the
| sewer
"The referee board experimental
with healthy young men at Chicago,
New York and New Haven, but all
Of these young men were stuffed with
great quantities of food while taking
the samples Of benzoate, and the re-
suits observed in them would not ap-
ply to the average consumer"
DR.. Reeds remarks followed speeches
nv members Of the referee board.
A special committee appointed by
the association to "inves;igate" the
referee board also reported adversely
to its findings.
Drop 1900 Feet; Twelve Killed
MEXICO CITY, Aug. 26.-Twelve
bodies We're recovered from the La Paz