Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-22
RIGID INSPECTION
Of FOOD PRODUCTS
Health Department Officials
to Require Screens for
Berries and Vegetables.
OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW
DEMANDED OF DEALERS
Lunchrooms to Be Investigated Es-
pecially With View to Fly
determination.

Berries and vegetables which are not
ordinarily washed or cooked before
being consumed must be kept protected
from flies by Washington dealers this
summer or the health department will
want to know the reason why, accord
ing to statements last night by Dis
trict Health Officer William c. Wood
ward
There is a law that requires dealers
to keep screened all foodstuffs that are
not washed, peeled or cooked before
being served. Complaints have reached
the health department recently to the
effect that the regula ton is not being
generally observed.
Dr. Woodward stated that any viola
lions discovered probably have been
due to the fact that the merchants at
fault considered that berries are
commodity which ordinarily would be
washed before being served as food.
Whatever may be the excuse offered,
the department.. he said, intends to
look carefully into the matter and see
that the law is obeyed.
Strict Inspection of Lunchrooms.
Along with it's investigation into this
feature. the department, according to
DR.. Woodward. intends to make it's in
spection of lunchrooms even more thor
ough than it has been heretofore, with
the object of making the popular eat
| ing places as nearly fiyproof as pos
sibIe.
Much has been accomplished by the
health department authorities in driv-
ing the dangerous insect out of lunch
rooms. but the task has not yet been
finished, by any means, and DIR. Wood
ward has determined that efforts in
this direction shall not lag during the
present season.
Attention of the officials of the health
department has been directed to a new
device for protecting foodstufs, re-
Gently installed in a Pennsylvania ave-
nue. lunchroom. The arrangement
merely is d screened box, which takes
up practically all the space on the
counter 1t is entirely f1yproof. and.
according to health department Of
ficials who have seen ii, demonstrates
clearly that the problem of eliminating
the fly from lunchrooms is not hope
less one.
! Lunchroom prOprietors have shown
every desire to aid in the war on the
disease-carrying pest DR.. Murray OF
the health department. who is supervfs-
| ing The Stars anti-fy campaign. plans
to bring to their attention practical
means that may be employed to &C
| complish this end.
Will Aid in the Work.
| Favorable responses are being re-
ceived from proprietors of livery
! stables and private stable owners to
! q letter prepared by Dr.. Murray and
sent out by The Star. requesting their
| assistance in the fight on the fly. In
this communication mention was made
! of certain poisons which may be used
| for destroying flies in stables without
! injuring the fertilizing value of the
stable refuse in which the pests are
! Matched.
! With the object of still further re-
ducing the fly menace to the healtn
| of Washington, Dr. John l.. Norris. as
| sistant health officer is preparing
! list of .don'ts" for residents who &c
| into the country on their vacation
! Every summer there Is an increase In
typhoid fever in Washington. large
percentage of the cases. 1t Is stated
/ being contracted by persons who were
! away outings The health depart
ment authorities believe that the ny
which is not held in such control out
side of Washington, especially IN rural
sections. is responsible for much OF the
typhoid fever contracted In TINS way