The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1914-12-03
TO BREAK UP TRAFFIC
IN BAD EGGS

City, State and Federal authorities
are now actively cooperating in iii.
nois to put an end to the illegal traf.
fic In rotten eggs. From evidence
already gathered, there seems to be
q definite market in Chicago for riots
and spots" at 81 case of thirty doz-
en-. In consequence rots and spots
from all over the surrounding coun-
try have been coming into Chica-
go in large numbers. In the past the
delay necessary to secure authorize
ton from Washington to make the
seizures under the federal food and
drugs act has proved serious handi.
cap In breaking up the traffic. With
the cooperation of the state author.
tiles, however, this delay Is now
largely obviated. Under the deten.
ton section of the state law govern
ing this matter, state inspectors are
able to hold suspicious shipments
for examination and further investi.
cation. The state authorities, being
on the spot, are able to act with
great promptness. In this way not
only are seizures made possible but
the necessary steps toward criminal
prosecution are also facilitated One
of the firms in Chicago handling
these bad eggs has already been
tried by state court and found gull.
ty. Shipments of bad eggs gre also
being reported to the authorities in
Chicago by city, state, and Federal
inspectors in other states, in order
that these eggs may be traced to their
ultimate destination.
Although there Is certain demand
for inedible eggs for technical pur-
poses, such as tanning leather, most
of the rots and spots that reach Chi.
cago are first broken and frozen and
then sold to bakers for use In cakes
and other forms of food. In one in
stance. at least a shipment of these
eggs was traced to firm which ad-
mitted that they had no use for them
except in food. AS a matter of fact
federal inspectors have been able to
secure ample evidence of the use of
unfit eggs for this purpose. Before
they hal the active cooperation of
the state authorities, however, it was
diiilcult to act with the promptness
required to obtain satisfactory re-
suits. Now, with the state and fed
eral authorities working together it
Is believed the traffic can be broken
mp very RAPIDLY. In this connection
1t is pointed out that most of the
firms using these unfit eggs. probably
do so reluctantly, believing that the
competition OF others force them into
the traffic. However, 1t has been
amply demonstrated by the depart.
ment that the frozen and dried egg
business is successful and import
ant industry only when based on the
use of good eggs. handled under spe-
cial conditions.
Another important result of the
work In Chicago 1t is hoped will be
to persuade other cities and states
of the necessity Of assisting the fed.
eral government in destroying the
traffic In bad eggs. That this can be
done has already been demonstrated
in Trenton. N. j.. where eleven in
dictments have been found on the
charge of conspiracy in connection
with this business. All of the in
dicted men are now awaiting trial.
Such criminal prosecutions It is be-
lieved will do far more to put an end
to the traffic than any number of
seizures or fines. The profit In the |
business is so great when conduct
ed on an extensive scale that the |
dealer can well afford an occasional :,
fine. His rots and spots cost him |
so little that when his goods are
seized the loss is insignificant and
in many cases he has no reputation
at all to suffer from the consequent
exposure.
In this connection the general in
formation which appeared in the Ser.
vice and Regulatory Announcements
OF the Bureau of Chemistry, Depart
ment of Agriculture, issued August
20, 1914, concerning the denaturing
OF food products not intended for
food but intended for technical pur-
poses, will be OF interest to those
who deal In certain food products ,
which consist In whole or In part OF /
decomposed material, such, for ex-
ample, as frozen or dried eggs ship ,
ped In interstate commerce for tech. !