Evening journal., 1913-07-01
KEEPING FOOD
In SUMMER

WASHINGTON. u. c.. July l.-Ihe
Department of Agriculture today Is
sued the following practical sugges-
tions in regard to keeping food and
drink In hot weather. with a view 70
helping the public to avoid sickness
from eating spoiled articles or diet
While people should be careful
about the condition Of the food they
eat az all seasons Of the year. they
should be particularly watchful dur
ing the summer months. In hot
weather bacteria multiply far more
rapidly than I'm cold weather and pro-
duce chemical changes in some foods
which greatly lessen their nutritive
value and often make them uniit for
human consumption. Unfortunately,
there Is no quick, absolute, simple,
practical way OF determining the
presence Of hurtful bacilli in foods
or of obtaining positive evidence OF
the existence OF ptomaines. The
average family does not have the
delicate apparatus needed for these
tests. nor the skill to detect these
micro-organisms.
"The housewife will find eyes and
nose the safest practical detectives of
bad food In hot weather n any arti-
Gle has any suspicion of an unusual
odor or looks abnormal, IL should
be avoided People eating I'm doubt
ful restaurants should be particular
~ careful about meats or fish cooked
with a highly spiced or aromatic
sauce which might disguise a bad
taste OF warning odor Only sweet
smelling, clean food should be eaten.
Spotted. green. Shiny. or frothy raw
meat. or meat which is soft in spots
also should be regarded with suspi-
cion. Taste Of course is a suppl
mentary test, but one to be used after
eyes, nose and fingers, A mother be-
fore she allows her child to ea' any
thing. should examine II carefully in
good light. smell IT, and finally
taste It.
milk particularly deteriorates rap
idly under summer heat, especially
II II already contains bacteria.
Housewives. therefore. should see to
It that their milk after being left by
the milkman does not stand for any
length Of time on a hot back porch
or stoop before it Ia put I'm the ice
box. Milk bottles should be kept
closed. both IN the ice-box and out
Of II. II there is any doubt at all as
to the excellence Of the local milk
supply. pasleurize all milk.
"Ali fccdB shoult be kept covered
or wrapped. and always out OF .he
reach Of flies. which are deadly car
riers Of typhoid All vessels, pitch
ers. etc. in which food is to he stored
should first be scalded. Food should
be handled az little as possible The
ice box. especially its drain pipe,
should he cleaned thorou lily and
frequently with boiling water and
washing soda, and given an occasion
( al airing. A persistent battle should
be waged AGAINST flies in all parts Of
the home.
"Uncooked foods as general
/ proposition should be avoided. Chill
drcn should not be allowed TO eat
the lkins Of fruits, especially fruits
which have been exposed 10 flies or
street dirt on unscreened stands OF
lpush-carts.
Those who 20 away for vacation
should not get the idea that every
thing IN a Liner resort or strange
city is necessarily pure and whole
some The danger Of typhoid fever n
lcountry resorts is very great Manl
OF ne cases Of typhoid fever re-
corded in the fall in cities where the
i,ater IL pure had their origin In
: 'ater or contaminated substances
drunk or eaten at some summer re-
sort Insist on boiled water. II you
absolutely cannot get boiled water,
make very sure about the reputation
Of springs. wells. or tap water Re
fuse absolutely to lake any water
that comes from source near an
Clubhouse or stable. or in neigh
horhood where fever is at all pre-
valent
Boiled water can be made just as
paiatahie az unboiled water. Tn,
Got taste which hoilec water has soor
after 81 has been boiled is duo e III,
fact that boiling drives out OF Il the
air which II held IN solution. II th'
water after boiling is put IN scaide,
shallow oper pans and allowed q
stand for "a hours where flies or dir
cannot get a. II. II will regain Il
air end have its u-ual taste restore
by the second day.
Finally 1t is particularly import
ant in summer that people shoui
not be mislcd into believing that IN
label Guaranteed under the Foo
and Drugs Act on cans anC pacxage
means thas the government has test
ed these foods and pronounced the'
: pure and desirable. The gcverhmei
does not make the guarantee Tn
guarantee is made wholly by N
manufacturer. and means no nor
5 thar wher your own corner g~oc.
guarantees that the sugar he weigh
out FOR you is all right Examir
goods labeled aranteed' just
n carefully as any other kind"