Evening journal., 1911-08-26
STORAGE FOOD
In BAD SHAPE
Conditions in New York State
Described As Being
Unsatisfactory

ALBANY. Aug. 26.-The State De-
partment Of Health, after a few weeks
inspection, reports that millions OF
pounds Of butter, poultry and fish and
thousands Of cases OF eggs have been
found in cold storage in this state.
Inspectors Of the State Department
of Health have been securing data
which until now have been Withheld
from the public in order that evidence
might be secured and prosecutions be-
gun against the most fragrant vio-
lators Of the Brennan Cold Storage
law. The Investigations. particularly
in New York, Albany. Utica. Syracuse,
Rochester and Buffalo have demons
strated the great need FOR this legis-
latlon, especially from public health
standpoint
Quantities Are Vast.
An examination OF the cold storage
warehouses i'm New York city shows
that the extent Of this Industry is far
greater than was ever imagined. and
the public can scarcely conceive Of
the immense quantities Of goods held
in storage. In twelve storage houses
alone in New York city visited by the
inspectors there were found to bs
more than 100000 pounds OF poultry
and meat. 100000 pounds Of fish. o.
100000 pounds OF cheese. 100000
pounds OF butter and 1000 cases OF
eggs. A thorough examination Of all
the plants is being completed
The department states that although
in the modern plants the conditions
are fairly satisfactory, ga others. as
many as in four Of the first 10 in
spected. conditions were far from
satisfactory. Tho report on file with
the department from the inspectors
show that in these places the floors
were not in good condition: the rooms
In which meats we're stored we're filled
With dirty barrels and rubbish.
In one place the floors were en-
tiroly OF wood and infected with In.
sects" walls and ceiling in very bad
condition. neglected and unclean. Ia
/ another place the floors OF halls lead
| ing directly TO rooms where food was
stored were wet. muddy and in many
places pools OF water had formed.
which, in some instances, evidently
had been standing for quite some time.
as It was stagnant. In this place in
the rooms where the meat was stored
everything was IN disorder with EVIL
dence that the floors and walls had
not recently been cleaned or swept.
In another ono OF the storage ware
houses the reports read that the
walls were unclean; that floors were
not swept or cleaned; that even Tho
rooms in which the food was KEEP
were in a dirty condition"
e Temperature Too High.
+ Some Of the houses, too. are cor
n Quoted with little regard to scientif
:. principles The temperature 81 .-' sslise
l. tho food Is stored varies considerable
/, in many cases it being but fare
cal to call It cold storage. as the tenn
perature is 20 degrees higher thai
that acknowledged by experts a
Z necessary for the proper protection
Of the food, butter having been found
b kept at 35 degrees. the proper tenn
, porature being zero.
An examination of the books, espe-
cially IN the warehouses storing
poultry, tended TO show that they
were largely placed IN storage at
times when they we're low in price.
i. This appeared so frequently that It
would seem a question as to whether
the storage was conducted merely for
the purpose of carrying over the sur
plus supply of one season to tho
scanty time of another.
Poultry Found Unfit.
IL was found on the examination of
tho poultry that I'm some cases It was
unfit for consumption. The depart
ment will insist vigorously on the
labelling OF food products as to date
of receipt and delivery and also the
selling of cold-storage foods as such,
for certainly tho consumer has a
!, right to know what he is buying.
Tho storage OF eggs I'm some ware
houses has proved to be most lax.
, They are brought into contact with
other foods and much deteriorated by
their proximity and absorption OF
: doors.