The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1912-01-17
DRIVING OUT THE
BOGUS FOOD MEN
Effective Work Of State Bureau
in Behalf Of Consumer.
DEVICES or AOuLTERATORS

Commissioner Foust's Agents In Every
County - Vigorous Enforcement Of
New Laws.
The adulterators and poisoners Of
food products are being driven out OF
BUSINESS in Pennsylvania. The deter
mination of the state administration
to protect the health of the people by
the rigid enforcement of the pure food
laws is removing the evils of an In
dustry, which in recent years has in
vaded every community in this coun-
try. The regulation of the manufac-
ture and sale of food products in
Pennsylvania is being commented on
approvingly by officials Of the agri-
cultural department at Washington, as
well as by officials of the dairy and
food commissions in every other state.
Effective legislation for the protec-
ton of the consumer from the manu-
facturer of bogus foods was made ne
cessary by new conditions. With the
rapid increase of population there
came change in the methods Of
preparation and manufacture of food
products unknown a quarter of a cen
tury ago. With these manufactures
came the doper and adulterator And
he increased and multiplied. Hardly
a commodity that finds a place upon
hA
sinister influence. This state OF at-
fairs led to the enactment of laws
regulating the manufacture OF food
products and appropriations for their
enforcement by the dairy and food
commissioner.
Pure Food Campaign Statewide.
The fight for pure food for the peo-
pie is a notable feature of the admin
istration of Governor John X. Tener.
In many of his speeches during the
campaign last year Governor Tener
emphasized the necessity of vigorous
measures against the dopers, and his
pledges on the stump in this direction
are being fulfilled. This is made pos
sible by supplementary pure food en-
actments by the legislature at its re-
cent session. James Foust, the dairy
and food commissioner, who is direct
ing the campaign against manufactur,
ers of bogus foods with marked abil-
ity, has assumed an uncompromising
attitude toward the violator of the
pure food laws. Into every county the
commissioner has sent agents to Sc
cure evidence upon which to base pros.
ecutions. The result of his vigorous
methods are indicated by long list
of convictions during the past eight
months.
The work of the food department in
providing the consumer with products
of high standard is illustrated by the
enforcement of an act of the legisla-
ture signed by Governor Tener April
6. This legislation is aimed at the
manufacturer of spurious sausages. 1t
defines the process of sausage making
and establishes the lawful ingredients
of that product by defining what are
not lawful ingredients. AS the season
is approaching when buckwheat cakes
and sausage occupy prominent place
in the breakfast menu, the sausage
producer is busy man.
The Shrinking Sausage Links.
1t has been the practice of many
manufacturers to take 60 per cent OF
meat, and add thereto Is per cent OF
potato -four or some other cereal, per.
mitting the addition of 25 per cent
water, which the flour would readily
absorb The sausage looks all right in
the market, but when it is put into
the frying pan it begins to shrink
like a cake Of ice in the sun. When
the cook makes stab at the stuffed
skin the water blows after the fashion
of bursted fire hose, and the pleth
oric link diminishes in size with
amazing suddenness.
Now meat costs the butcher an av
erage of 10 cents per pound and po
tato -four is worth a trifle less than
8 cents, while the water is clear profit
sausage along unlawful lines.
Adulterations in the sausage line
are not confined to the pork variety
Bologna is mixed in much the same
way and is also boiled in a harmful
chemical concoction to give it a rich
color, all of which is forbidden by
law. Commissioner Foust insists that
people who pay the current high
prices for sausage are entitled to have
| their purchase all meat, with the priv
ilege of adding the other ingredients
themselves, if they so desire.
No Compromise With Offenders.
While the economical spirit of mod
ern merchandising manages to work
up all of the animal, including horns
hoofs and intestines, into by-products
in the future in Pennsylvania the pro
duct must be just what it is represent
ed when sold to the consumer or the
state bureau will know the reason
why. The commissioner has no desire
to take snap judgment on any one ol
cause trouble because of real ignor
ance, and hence he gives fair warnins
to offenders.
The western sausage manufacturer:
and others are urging that the en-
forcement of the law be suspended
with respect to goods bought by re
tailers and placed upon their shelve:
prior to the passage of the sausage
law, but Mr. Foust has replied thai
the manufacturers must take bacl
their goods, Throughout the state
Commissioner Foust's agents are a
work among the sausage manufactur
ers. The new law provides that upor
conviction the manufacturer shall pa,
fine of not less than 800 nor NOR,
| than 9000 or IN undarpo i'm nrisonmen