The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-08-30
sENzoArE or SODA.


Commenting on the discussion at the
recent pure food convention in Denver
over benzoate Of soda--The Duluth
Herald says:
There is strife over the use of BEN
zoate OF soda as q preservative, in
which food experts are divided. pub
lie officials oppose each other heated
ly from either side OF the controversy,
and food manufacturers are arrayed
against each other.
1t is all very puzzling to the custom
er, who doesn't care rap about COM
mercial rivalries or jealousies In off,
cial circles, but who does want his
food brought to the table in such shape
that 1t will nourish and not poison.
What is benzoate OF soda? 1t is a
combination Of carbon, hydrogen and
oxygen, and its chemical formula In
dicates that it is q complex prepara-
tion. Originally IL was made from gum
benzoin, natural product; and may
be it was good to eat then. Now 1t is
made synthetically from coal tar pro-
ducts. and everybody knows that coal
tar products are not good to eat.
What is II used for7 1t is used as a
preservative in catsup, jams, jellies,
fruit products In Jars, all kinds OF
relishes, pickles, ETC., conserves, cider.
some dried fish such as Goldfish, dried
meats, etc.
Is 1t harmful to the human system7
There is the rock on which manufac-
turers, dealers and food experts are
dashing their frenzied heads. Some say
it is deadly poison, and never should
be permitted to get into our food at
all. Among these are DR.. H. w. Wiley,
the government food expert, and the
Heinz company, manufacturers OF the
"fifty -seven varieties" Others say it
does no harm, but that there is vast
harm in food products not preserved
by its use. Among these are Secretary
Wilson of the department of agricul-
ture and a number OF manufacturers
who use it
What is the poor, unlearned, untu-
tored consumer to believe in this clash
of experts2 Shall he eat benzoate of
soda, or shall he eschew 1t as deadly
peril? Shall he believe DIR. Wiley or
Secretary Wilson? The manufacturers
on both sides might as well be thrown
out of consideration altogether, because
clearly they are not disinterested. DR..
Wiley and Secretary Wilson ought to
be disinterested. DR.. Wiley made some
tests of the stuff on poison squad"
and he Is firmly of the belief that ben
zoate Of soda is very far from being
good to eat. The opposing experts say
that his test was insufficient, and that
not only Is the drug harmless, but
foods put out without ii are dangerous.
Besides Secretary Wilson has the back
ing of the Remsen board Of experts,
appointed by President Roosevelt,
There are two ways of looking at It,
One Is that so long as the doctors dis
agree, the public might as well for
get 1t, and eat the food that comes to
the table without having it chemically
analysed to see IL 1t contains benzoate
of soda. The other is that 1t doesn't
pay to take chances, and that so long
as some doctors OF acknowledged skill
and wisdom declare II to be poison
Gus, there is no sense in anybody's
eating IT.. s...
Everybody must take his choice be-
| tween these two attitudes. In the
meantime, the experts seem unlikely to
settle 1t. The division is SO sharp and
heated, and the rivalries of manufac-
| turers have made the dispute so fervid,
that doubt will linger long after the
food experts at Denver have concluded
their session and ceased agitating the
atmosphere with their debates.