Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-06-30
UNITED STATES CONSUL RE.
PORTS ON FOOD CONDITIONS
IN EMPIRE.
LACK OF SYSTEMATIC
EFFORT At RETIREMENT
Conditions in Germany Similar to
Those in United States Before CRU
sade For Pure Food Regan-Adul.
terations Resorted to and Cheap Sub
stisutes Placed on saIe-Flour Dirty.
Especial Correspondence.l

Washington, June 30-The United
states Is not the only country which
is suffering from the activity of the
dopefS and adulterators of food pro-
ducts, according to a report on the
aduiteration of foods in Germany,
, made by Consul General Britain from
Coburg. Reports of Prussian state Of
: ficials show a serious condition of
/ things there.
Among other things which are shown
! to exist in Germany is a serious stu
alton With respect to butter. The use
of artificial butter grows from year to
year. In spite of the increa sing con-
sumption there is much uncleanliness
where 1t is produced Tallow is Of
ten confiscated because it contains
hair, flies splinters and other foreign
substances. The manufactured butter
is sometimes confiscated because it
contains d large percentage of soda.
Margarine manufacturers are still us
ing henzoic acid and sulphuric acid as
pTeservative agents. Up to the present
time, the penalty for using such adul-
terants has not been clearly defined
Flour Is Dirty.
Flour and bakery products Consul
General Britain reports, also need care
ful supervfsioan because of the mix
ture OF inferior products, sand, weed
seeds and mites. In many districts, 1t
has been found that talcum was used
to adulterate flour and that there was
uncleanliness in the storerooms and
the manner of manufacture Mites,
worms and spiders were found in the
-four bins. So called egg mixtures Of
ten resemble eggs only in color and
that Is given by a coal-tar product.
Fruit juices are artificially colored,
often with poisonous coloring matter.
In a sparkling fruit wine adver-
tised as free from alcohol. per cent
OF alcohol was found. The green color
of canned vegetables was found fire.
quently TO be the result of the use OF
salts of copper. Marmalade and fruit
jellies were found often 10 consist al
most entirely of artificial ingredients.
Coffee was most frequently adulter-
ated with puse or lupine seeds.
In many instances malt coffee was
found to be simply unmalted. roasted
DdT!eS <tUuiteTGled vinegar rs SSiQ
TO have caused two deaths. Wines
have been found less impure because
of the strict supervision over the wine
Industry but in the manufacture of
beer much is to be desired in the way
Of cleanliness. Twice brandy was
found adulterated with methylated
spirits
Lead was found to be used for COL
oil. ell 5a;I
\ Substance advertised for nickel was
found to consist of a strongly poisonous
quicksilver solutaion In baby's
rubber nipple, 40 per cent of zinc was
found
Similar to Conditions Here.
The situation in Germany. in short,
Is disclosed to be much like that in
this country with respect to the adul-
teration of food products. That only
a small part of the offenses heard
against pure foods and clean foods
are reached either by the federal, state
or municipal laws is by nobody better
known than by the men entrusted with
the enforcement of the pure food and
drugs act 1t is in an effort to diminish
to some extent the scope OF the Of
tending that plan of cooperation
among federal. state and municipal
officials is being worked out under the
direction Of DR. Alsberg. chief of the
bureau Of chemistry.