The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-11-09
BENzOATE OF SODA AGAIN

The American public believes fbas question is not settled until It is settled right. This accounts for fhs fact that the sodium benzoats qBes- ton will not down And yet, a1- though volumes have been written on this much controverted subject, fbe problem itself is really a simple one There are three basic facts on which all are agreed: First, no one denies that sodium benzoate in foods may prove harmful in certain quantities. to certain classes of individuals See- ond, no one denies that food-sfuYs 0< a high quality can be put up with out the use of sodium benz0ates in fact the best class of food msncfac- turers do not use this chemical chemical is used, scrupu1ous cIeaBsI- ness and extreme care in handling aFs no longer necessary. These are fbres incontrovertfble facts, admitted gr1dz- ingly or frankly, as the case may be, by both the pro- and anti-benzosts forces. Under the cfrc4rnssances. then, it is not irrational to conc1u6S that sodium Denzoate should not 5e used as food preservative.
 And now comes from Berlin tHe Expert Opinion of the Royal Sc5sn-- tific Deputation for Medical Affairs
 
 and it's Salts for the Preservation cf Food" These experts, says The Journal of the American Medical As~ sociation, were requested by the Mir ister of Education and Medical A. fairs in Germany to give their opinion briefly summarize the findings Of va rious scientists. The work Of fas United States referee board, these Ger man scientists say, was of too short duration to be regarded as demon strating the unconditional n[n-i15uF- ter considering all of the evidence ca the subject, the Scientific Deportation for Medical Affairs reached fhe con- clusion that the use Of benzo5c acid and benzoic acid salts for the pssser- vation of food should not De permit ted. The Deputation also said a further objection against the use Of chemical preservatfves at all consists in the fact that in it's use the food intended for consumption may not 5e handled with the necessary care and cleanliness to prevent It's decay Or f7- jury by fungi Similar osfee- tions exist regarding a1bsminous food liable to decay. The experiments 0< the imperial health office have demon strated that by mixing 0.S per cent benzoic acid or sodium benzoate with chopped meat slight smell Of decay
 
 this process, therefore, food which has already commenced to decay can be given the appearance of freshness and the purchaser deceived as to it's q1aL ity."
 These findings agree not only win the opinion officially expressed by tne American Medical Association fn fts resolutions on this subject, but also with the opinion held by other sc5er- tific bodies and by the intelligent pt1o- lie generally. They also agree with the findings of scientific bodies jn France, Austria and gaxonys With the reorganization of the Depart1sne of Agriculture, that is as inevitable as it Is necessary, it is to be hoped fbsc the United States government VII soon cease to hold it's present ineon- sistent position on the subject os ffs use of sodium benzoate fin foods. Tsss chemical has no place in tFe dietary of any people and it's 1ssa1fzed uss is a disgrace to an enlightened nation