The Washington times., 1911-10-09
GERMAN BENZOATE
REPORT, UNFOLDING
WILEY, IS RECEIVED
Prussian Inhibition Sustains
Allegation of Injury
L.. From Use.
By THEODORE TILLER.

The report of the German health au-
thorities unfolding DR.. Harvey W.
Wiley in his contention that benzoate OF
soda is a harmful preservative, and re-
1ecting the contrary claims of the Rem
sen referee board in the famous con-
troversy, has been transmitted to the
Department of Agriculture by the State
Department and was today formally
forwarded to the chief chemist.
hTe Governor of Indiana, which State
is now involved In a benZoate of soda
war with certain Gamers. requested the
State Department to obtain copy of
the in,1ngs Of the German health Of
hcials Although it has been known
that the so-called Prussian referee board
sided with Dr. Wiley IN the contro-
Versy, this Government has been with
out a full copy of the report until to-
day. DR.. Wiley, who reads German,
analyzed the report with considerable
satiafaction this morning.
The findings, promulgated by the
German government in a public docu-
ment, are labeled:
Report of the Royal Scientific Dep
utation for Medical Affairs concerning
the uses of bensoiC acid and its salts
for preserving food materials"
The report contains a full history Of
the American controversy over the
benZoate of soda, including a resume OF
the opinion of DIR. Wiley, the creation
OF the Remsen board by order OF PreSi-
dent Roosevelt, and the opinion of that
board reversing the chief chemist. In
conclusion the Prussian board emphati-
cally sides with DR.. Wiley in the fol-
lowing language:
The PruSSian View.
The Royal Scientific Deputation for
Medical Affairs is likewise of the
opinion that the use of benzoic acid
and benzoates should not be permitted
for me preservation of foodstuffs.
For even if in small amounts it
may be considered as harmless for
the human organism, still there is the
danger present that by the addition
of these substances to the various
food stuffs and drinks such amounts
Will be introduced that may possibly
result in harm to the organism. This
danger exists especially with chill
dren, aged persons and weakly and
slckly persons, lnaSmuch as benZoic
acid may be formed within the body
out of food stuffs to which no ben
Zoate has been added
"A further consideration, which
should be directed against the use of
chemical preservativeS in general, is
that by their use the proper care and
cleanliness on the part of the manu-
facturers and statesmen with such
FOODS as may easily undergo decom-
position, putrefaction or mold forma-
ton may be neglected: indeed, it NAV
even result in lowering the quality
OF the goods.
Effects on Margarin.
This, according to various communi-
cations, seems especially to oe the case
with margarin, for the preserving of
which, as intimated, benzoic aLid is used
at present in large quantities. The COM
mercial margarin at present contains
much water, whereby Its keeping puau-
ties are lessened, while good margarfn.
according to a communication from the
imperial health department, may be
kept for months at time without pre-
servatives under suitable care. The
poorly prepared and high Water-contain-
Ing margarain becomes a better nutrient
grounds for muldS anG bacteria and for
these reasons preservative in required
Similar considerations should be
given in reference to easily deComposing
protein-COntaining fOodstuff. The ex-
periments of the imperial heaiCh depart
ment have shown, among U,rrr things,
that slight putrefaciive odUr of Sau-
sage meat, which may be weakened by
simply turning or areating but not re-
moved, will disappear after a time when
.95 per cent benZOic acid or sodium ben
zOate is mixed with IL.
There can be given by this procedure
the appearance of freshness 10 food
stuffs that already have entered upon
deCOr position, and the buyer may be
deceived as to quality.