Imperial Valley press., 1913-09-16
Preservation of Food.

pure lOOu anu tne pIODlem OIL naVlnS
it produced and distributed under san
itary conditions, the Housewives
League Magazine calls attention to
the equally necessary side of the food
question, the Importance Of keeping
the food pure after it has possed out
Of the hands Of the manufacturer and
the dealer; keeping it uncontaminated,
unadulterated and unrobbed after It
has been brought into our homes. We
should demand pure food, but let US
perfect and complete this demand by
caring for our food products so tha.
they shall remain free from i'm
purities and harmful change
The chief sources of home contain
ination and deterioration are two
fold: First, general uncleanliness, in
cluding unsanitary conditions in the
kitchen, pantries, cellars and ice
chests, careless cleaning and handling
of food supplies when they come from
the market, and improper protection
in storing that same food until used.
Second, insufficient knowledge con-
cerning the proper cooking Of food.
Many unexplained cases Of food
poisoning, ptomaines, could only too
often be traced to our kitchens if we
only knew. While disease germs are
present in numbers in the most
cleanly places, they are million-fold
more numerous IN damp, dark, dirty
quarters where sunlight never enters,
where crumbs OF food are left to
decay and dust to accumulate and the
chances for contamination are there
fore million times more certain.
The first step, then, toward keeping
food pure is to keep it properly pro-
tected from unsanitary surroundings;
the second to reduce those unsanita-y
surroundings to the minimum.
We all know that the refrigerator Is
one of the greatest household bene-
fits. 1t is, however, at the same one
Cf the greatest evils In this climate
it would be almost impossible to keen
house without it; yet neglected, it can
be the cause Of more illness than 1t
is possible to realize. It is not neces-
sary to say that it should have regu-
lar and scientific care. This is infor-
nation which is well written, broad
cast, in many Of the good household
hooks and magazines which are now
published. But I do want to say that
if we have any particle of response
| bility for the welfare of our families,
we would never permit any servant
to stand between Us and our refrigera-
tor if We realized the danger we are
incurring thereby.
Just one point here-never. in a
moment of enthusiastic economy,
wrap the ice in paper to keep it from
melting. It will keep beautifully, but
the flood nigh as well be kept on
the pantry shelf for all the refriger-
alton it will get. 1t is the melting Of
ice which makes the refrigerator cold.
Other fruitful sources for the i'm
pairment of our food are insanitary
pantries. Dry groceries should be
stored in covered glass or stone jars
or tin boxes, not only to keep the food
itself in good condition and free from
dust, as well as the deadly house fly
and other insects, but to prevent the
many household pests from gathering
and breeding. These pests come to our
kitchen and storerooms for food. If
they do not find it they will not come.
Pet animals should never be toler-
ated in the kitchen. In many families
where they are not allowed in the liv-
ing room for fear of soiling or des-
troying the furniture, they are given
the freedom of the kitchen. Even the
most well-bred cats and dogs come in
contact with filth which we would not
care to have associated with our food.
yet we all know the privileges many
of them enjoy.
Other prolific sources for the POI
soning of our foods are cellars not
systematically cleaned, aired and
whitewashed; unwashed, uncovered
garbage pals, the neglected water
cooler, insanitary methods of dish
washing, unsterilized cooking utensils,
greasy dish-cloths, overworked dish
towels, the abhorrent kitchen roller
towel and lack Of personal cleanliness
by those who are handling our food:
an alluring array, to say the least.