The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-11-16
F|nO HUGE TRADE
IN ROTTEN EGGs
One Thousand Cases of RIOTS anil
Spots" Made Up Into Delicaciss
Each Day in New York.

NEW YORK. Nov. IA huge
business in riots and spots rotten,
putrid cggs-has been uneaI'htu
here. with startling revelations OF tue
nse nv bakers of enormous quantities
OF this decayed product IN the manu-,
facture of sweet and tempting tood
products.
All this with the connivance OF
nrominont health department officials,
three OF whom have now been
abruptly suspended.
The Investigation now under way
here proves conclusively that bakers
had bought rotten eggs in large guam
titles. that these eggs had been used
in making sponge cake, pound cake
lady fingers and other sweet cakes
which appeal especially TO women and
children; that this trade had been
carried on for years with the tacit
permission. IL not assistance, of the
very men intrusted with the inspec
ton and care OF the food of the city
The developments already have re-
suited in the suspension from office
of Bayard Clarke Fuller, supervising
inspector OF foods. and food inspec'
tors Philip Holz and Hugh II. Master
son. by Health Commissioner Lederle
The investigation started here with
the turning OF the limelight on the
Arm of Lasar & Thompson. which had
been supplying bakers supply houses
with putrid and decomposing eggs.
This Arm came here from Philadel-
mia. having been driven out or bust
ness there by the health authorities.
since Philadelphia and other eastern
cities cleaned up the business, New
York has become a central distribut'
inR point in the east for rotten eggs.
Tanners make a legitimate use or
rotten eggs in the preparation OF
mixture known as tanners egg
yolk." This mixture is used TO soften
and give color to fine leather. and
rotten eggs are eagerly sought by the
tanners. But so large has grown the
demand of the bakers for rotten eggs
that the tanners could not meet the
advanced prices. They were willing
to pay about cents dozen. but the
bakers paid cents a dozen, or from
9l.5O to S1.T5 a case. This forced the
tanners out or the buying field and
Investigation showed the bakers were
oiItbidding them for rotten eggs.
The secret OF the Use OF decompos
ed eggs by the bakers is that the
smell of the rotten eggs bakes out
and the poisonous gases resulting
makes the cakes lighter than when
made with good eggs. Ii is estimated
that New York bakers alone use 1000
cases OF rotten eggs day, in making
food.
Lasaf & Thompson had one expert.
ence which shows pretty we'll the eX'
tent OF the trade. as we'll as the con
ditions under which il was carried
on. On Oct % this firm sold TO +. E
Rosebrock G. Co, bakers supply
house, 81 cases of rotten eggs-l $50
dozen, or 10000 eggs. These were
billed as riots and spots. They tried
to- collect $13S.50 for this bill, but
Rosebrock refused TO settle, claiming
the eggs were no good Lasar &
Thompson insisted that Rosebrock
knew perfectly we'll that he had ask
ed for rotten eggs and that rotten
eggs had been delivered. and threat
ened TO bring suit In the municipal
court for the amount of the bill. Las
ar says that when this suit was talk
ed OF both Holz and Masterson. in
spectors. told him not TO try TO force
the payment, but TO settle IL out OF
court. eIlasar also says that Super
vising Inspector Fuller told him that
IL the suit we're allowed TO go TO trial
the whole rotten egg business would
be shown up and the United States
inspectors would step In and make
trouble for everybody. Rosebrock
finally settled
Both Lasar and Thompson have
made affidavits confessing TO the ma
tire of their business. and telling how
II was carried on with the knowledge
of. the inspectors. Lasar says that
Holz once said to him: 1t is a damn
ed, dirty, shrinking business. and
don't want you fellows kicking il up
7 I'M the face OF the courts
- AurrYrYu.C nArCrYr1-D