The Washington times., 1913-06-30
GIVES USEFUL HINTS
ABOUT SUMMER FOOD
Agriculture Department Issues
Warning to Help ForestalI
Hot Weather Illness.

Practical hints on the summer diet
he care and proper preservation
'od and drink during the hot
S. are contained in a warning
the Department of Agriculture
It summer lis
s'es and nose are the safest prac-
teal detectives for the housewife Of bad
fosd in hot weather." according to a
statement today from the department
IF any article has any suspicion of an
unusual odor or looks abnormal. it
should be avoided" the statement says.
Particular care of the diet in sum-
mer Is essential. 1t is declared. to avoid
sickness. while people should be care
fG about the condition of the food they
eat at all seasons of the year" con-
ttnues the statement. they should be
ner months. In hot weather. bacteria
multiply far more rapidly than in cold
weather and produce chemical changes
IN some foods which lessen Their nutri-
tive value and often make them unfit
for human consumption
People eating in doubtful restaurants
should be particularly careful about
meats or FISH cooked with a highly
spiced or aromatic sauce which might
d4sgrise bad taste or warning odor.
0aAy SWCch SiIcAAlHes ClcdH AOOO cuO1lo
be eaten. Spotted, green, Shiny, or
frothy raw meat. or meat which is soft
In spots. also should be regarded with
suspicion. Taste. OF course, Is sup
Elementary test. but one to be used
after eyes, nose, and fingers. mother
besore she allows her child TO eat any
thing. should examine IL carefully in a
good light smell IL. and finally taste 1t.
Care With Milk Imperative.
MIX particularly deteriorates rapidly
under summer heat. especially II It al
ready contains bacteria. Housewives.
therefore. should see to IT that their
milk after being left by the miikman
does not stand for any length of tirse
- hot back porch or steps before II is
~ IN the icebox. Mix bottles should
be kept closed. both IN the icebox and
out OF it. II there is any doubt at all
as to the excellence of the local milk
supply. pasteurize all milk
AN foods should be kept covered or
wrapped. and always out Of the reach
Of fiee. which are deadly carriers of
typhoid. All vessels, pitchers. etc. in
be scaided. Food should be handled as
little az possible. The ice box. especially
IN drain pipe. should be cleaned thor
cughiy and frequently with boiling wa
occasional airing. A persistent battle
sEouid be wasad against flies In all
parts Of the home
'Uncooked foods as a general prop
csition should be avoided. Children
should not be allowed to eat the skins
Of fruits. especially fruits which have
been exposed to flies or street dirt on
unscreened stands or pushcarts.
Insist On Boiled Water.
Those who go away for vacation
shouid not get the idea that everything
IN a summer resort or strange city is
necessarily pure and wholesome. The
danger Of typhoid fever in country re-
sorts is very great Many Of the cases
OF typhoid fever recorded in the fall
In cities where the water Is pure, had
their origin in water or contaminated
substances drunk or eaten at some
summer resort Insist on boiled water.
II you absolutely cannot get boiled
utation of springs, wells. or tap water.
Refuse absolutely to take any water
that comes from a source near an out
house or stable, or in a neighborhood
where fever IL at all prevalent.
Boiled water can be made Just as
palatable as unboiled water. The nat
taste which boiled water has soon after
II has been boiled Is due 10 the fact
that boiling drives out Of IL the air
which Il held In solution II the water.
after boiling, is put In scalded shallow
twenty-forr hours where flies or dirt
cannot get at II. IL Will regain Its air
and have its usual taste restored py
the second day.
Don't Depend On Label
Finally, It is particularly important
in summer that people should not be
misied into believing that the label
Guaranteed under the food and drugs
act" on cans and packages means that
the Government has tested these foods
ana pronounced them pure and desira-
BILE The Government does not make the
guarantee.
'The guarantee Is made wholly by
the manufacturer, and means no more
than when your own corner grocer
guarantees that the sugar he weighs
out for you is all right Examine goods
labeled guaranteed just as carefully
as any other kind
Unfortunately. there is no quick. alb
solute, simple. practical wav OF de-
termining the presence of hurtful bacilh
in foods or of obtaining positive EVIL |
dence of the existence of ptomaines.
The average family does not have the |
delicate apparatus needed for these
ststA nor the skill to Detect these |
micro-organisms."