The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-08-29
OUR BUNCOMBE PURE FOOD LAW


The national food law it stands today is con-
verified into protection for fraud and bulwark for
fakers quite often it is safeguard to the public
That fact has lately been dawning the people who
know about problems pure foods and drugs
The law passed under the slogan. Let the label
tell" prostituted the vicious purpose to
let the label lie and that is just what the label in et
feet if not literally, does altogether too many times
Guaranteed the pure food and drugs act, serial
number 4-1144," the familiar formula to be on all
of nostrums and food preparations. What does
that to the average purchaser?
Go and ask the first you see
what they think it From composite of their
vague explanations will learn that they have assum
ed that that legend that the government knows
what is in that contaner, has found it good and whole
some, if it food decided if is medicine that
it is useful for the purpose of curing the troubles
for which its manufacturers recommend it. The average
person guarantee label that the
has right the job watching the stuff
concocted and after making that is good and de
sirable put label a certificate.
We may smile this credulity but is it unreason-
able?
Before the pure food law passed, the meat in
specon law written into the statutes That law was
after fashion, the model which the food law was
The inspection law. however, actually does
label what it says and all it seems to
say. inspected passed side of meat in a
butchers cooler just what it says-that piece was
inspected in killing and found good and labeled because
the inspecting officer KNEW it was good.
If it is possible to insure that meats shall have actual
honest individual personal inspection, it should be vast
easier and less expensive to do much for prepara
tons and medicine These latter prepared by
processes and formulas. The processes and formulas
should be known standards should be established by
law fixing proportions of certain dangerous
substances that be exceeded In the consdera-
ton the pure food act by there was long
this question fixing absolute standards
scientific knowledge, and it was de-
that really he
safe effective way get the results desired 1t was
generally understood the time that before long the pro-
standards added the law, that
it might be made really effective measure.
The it stands today does not require the manu-
acurer place the guarantee label his goods But
do because gives their products stand
ing in the eyes of the public that they do not deserve
The label simply that the manufacturer guar
protect the subsidiary dealer against
the goods seized and attacked
by the government under the pure food law! That is
all is guarantee Of quality. 1t is not
ment guarantee the guarantee against
expense and in of prosecution by the
DR.. Wiley always tnsstent that the law must be
strengthened by establishment standards Dr. Ais
berg the chief of the bureau of chemistry takes
acy the position He has been discussing the sub
in addresses and writings and the community is be-
ginning to get better, understanding of the subject
which most certainly 1t needs.
The pure food act is administered under the depart
agriculture and it known that the responsible
chiefs that department determined to make fight
legislation looking the establishment of standards
Many states have already passed such legislation and
decidedly in of the federal government in
the actual protection of the public health There is
good of demand for better cooperation between
states the national government in such
this, and the often criticized for backward
ness They not to be criticized in this They
or least progressves among them in advance
the national and the latter has need
about perfectng this law it will be positive drag
clog real effective effort for the protection
public health Philadelphia Times.