The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-06
PRESERVING FOOD
IN HOT WEATHER.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
ISSUES SOME VALUABLE PRAC. 4
TICAL INSTRUCTION..
TO AVOID SICKNESS
EYES AND NOSE OF HOUSEWIFE
THE BEST DETECTIVES, BUT i
THERE ARE SAFEGUARDS y
TO BE OBSERVED.

TX
Especial to The Richmond virginian.)
WASHINGTON. D. c., July 6.-The
department of agriculture today is
sued the following practical sugGes-
tons in regard to keeping food and
drink in hot weather, with view
to helping the public to avoid sick
ness from spoiled articles OF diet:
while people should be careful
about the condition of the food they
eat at all seasons OF the year. they
should be particularly watchful dur
ing the summer months. In hot
weather, bacteria multiply far moro
rapidly than in cold weather, and pro-
duce chemical changes in some foods
which greatly lessen their nutrttive
value and often make them unnt Tor
human consumption. Unfortunately.
practical way OF determining the pref
ence of hurtfuI bacilli in foods. or
of obtaining positive evidence OF the
existence OF ptomaines. The average
family does not have the delicate Ap-
paratus needed for these tests. nor the
skill to detect these micro organising.
Eyes and Nose Detectives.
'"The housewife will find eyes ana
nose the safest practical detectives OF
bad food in hot weather. II any ar
ticle has any suspicion OF an unusual
odor or looks abnormal, 1t should BE-
avoided. People eating in doubtful
restaurants should be particularly
careful about meats or fish cooked
with highly spiced or aromatic sauce
which might disguise a bad taste or
warning cdor Only sweet smelling,
clean food should be eaten. Spotted.
green, Shiny, or frothy raw meat. or
t. ~ annfU AlDn
should be regarded with suspicion.
Taste, of course, Is a supplementary
test. but one to be used after eyes.
nose, and fingers. A mother oe1oFO
she allows her child to eat anything.
should examine It carefully In a good
light. smell It, and finally taste It.
Mill particularly deteriorafes rap
Idly under summer heat. especially u
| IL already contains bacteria. House,
wives, therefore. should see to 1t that
their milk after being left by the
m,Ikman does not stand for any
length Of time, on a hot back porch
or stoop before 1t IS put In the Ice
box. Milk bottles should be Kept
| closed, both in the ice box ana out
of it. II there Is any doubt at Al
as to the excellence of the local mix
supply, pasteurize all milk.
Look Out For Flies.
| "All foods should be kept covered
| or wrapped. and always out or the
reach Of flies, which are deadly car
riers Of typhoid. All vessels. pitchers,
etc, in which food is to be stored
should first be scalded. Food should
tbe handled as little as possible. The
| ice box, especially Its drain pipe.
/ should be cleaned thoroughly and fro
auentfy with boiling water and wass-
| ing soda. and given an occasional air
! ing. A persistent battle should be
wared against flies in all parts OF the
/ home.
"JTncooked foods as a general
proposition should be avoided. Chill
dren should not be allowed TO ear
the skins of fruits, especially fruits
which have been exposed to MES OF
street dirt on unscreened stands ~
push carts.
Those who go away for vacation
should not get the idea that every
thing in a summer resort or strange
city Is necessarily pure and whole
some. The danger Of typhoid fever
in country resorts Is very great ma
Of the cases Of typhoid fever recorde0
In the fall in cities where the wa1se
/ is pure had their origin in water Or
contaminated substances. drunk or
eaten at some summer resort. 1nS1De
lon boiled water. II you absoiuteiy
cannot get boiled water, make veiy
sure about the reputation Of sprtn8A,
wells or tap water Refuse absolutely
to take any water that comes from .
source near an clubhouse or stable OK
In a neighborhood where fever u -
all prevalent
Boil the Water.
BOILED water can be made Just -
Ipalatable as unboiled water. The maj
taste which boiled water has soon
after 1t has been boiled 10 due 70 the
fact that boiling drives out OF Y the
air which 1t held in solution. II tho
water after boiling II put in sclded
shallow open pans and allowed -
stand r-twenty-foar hours whore
fles or dirt cannot get at II, e VIII
regain its air and have its usual taste
restored by the second day.
4 rsse Finally It IL particularly fnfpost1ls
lin summer that people should NOT ~
tmisled Into believing that the taRel
Guaranteed under the Food ana
Drugs Act on cans and pAckage4
means that the government has tseea0
these foods and pronounced than ruro
land desirable. The government doAe
not make tho guarantee. The gpAr-
l.antee Is made wholly by the mAMu-
lfacturer, and means no more TIM
when your own corner grocer Gu4r-
antees that the sugar he weighs QQ&
flor you II all right. Examine gooQa
Labeled guaranteed" Just - cAxo>
fully ~ any other kind"