Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-22

letin, which is in part as follows
''Oleomargarine is a mixture of beef
and pork fats with cottonseed oil.
These are wholesome singly and in
combination they have a food value.
This mixture-or oleomargarine rs
such--is practically untaXed, having
only nominal tax of one-quarter Of
cent per pound. This is 50 small
that ii can hardly add to the cost Of
butter. or the expense Of living.
eWhen to natural olcGmargarine, as
above described, and which has a
legitimate place in commerce there is
added certain coloring matter which
makes it resemble ordinary table
butter. it loses the character of nat
ural oIeomarearine and becomes an
imitation or a counterfeit
The government. which practically
nuts no tax on oleomargarine, steps
in aud taxes the imitation of common
table butter n cents a pound. The
reason for the 10 cent tax on imlta-
ton butter-not on genuine oleomar-
garine-is that. if there were no re-
strictive legislation. oleomargarine
would be sold dishonesty in MANY,
if not all. instances. to the injury OF
the customer and the disbursement
Of all honest business.
Here in Maine fair grades OF table
butter can be bought by dealers from
30 10 - cents per pound and fetalied
from - to ~ cents per pound. Hon
est oleomargarine, without celorlng,
can be bought at y to 10 cents ana re
tailed at IS to - cents per pound.
.sRcnoVated butter, or process put
ter. as it is sometimes called, is usual
IN made-over butter. Low grade and
rancid buffers that have become I'M
dt for use are sometimes subjected To
the process known as renovation
The butter is melted and poured INTO
cold water, so as To recrystalize the
fat and 10 remove those products
which impart the undesirabi" odors
and eavors. When melted in this way
and recrvStalIZed the butter fat fails
To form crystals of the same charae
Ter rs the original butter. This fat
is ehurned with either butternltk'
milk, cream or skimm milk, to form
renovated butter. which has poor
keeping qualities. the fats becoming
rancid easily.
.'Fhe dealers have become very lax
in regard to the laws relating To reno
waited butter There IS a marked faii-
tf,.es 10 place somewhere on the aftici1
itself a placard or sign, stating exact
" what il is. The dealers expose
mass of yellow substance. supposedly
hntter. to the average person II Is
seldom covered properly and seldom
docs If hear a card stating what II
is. While the agent has purchased IN
numerous instances package Of what
he supposed YVES butter, upon analN-
sis il was found to be renovated out
Ter and the package lie received
failed to have or the OUTSIDE
any stamp or label, hearing the
words renovated butter These
cases were plainly violations OF
Section A of Chapter IS of the Public
Laws of 1905, as amended. Nhethef
The violation was wilful or not. the
fact remains that the consuming pup
lie is being imposed upon by elthes
lax or interruptions dealers, VINO
should be taught the requirements I'll
the law"
The following results of prosecutions
fer selling renovated butter without
labelling the package are recorded.
Joseph Menard. BiddefCrd, pleaded
nelo contendere. found guilty; Joiia
+. Cloutier. Biddeford, pleaded mo-"
contendere. found guilty: \. Nalilere,
Biddeford pleaded nolo eontenaefe'
found guilty. w. Ste. Marie. hide
ford. pleaded nolo contendere. founa
guilty.