The Detroit times., 1914-12-03
SIGNS THATFOOD
and DRUG FIGHT
MAY BE RENEWED
Result of New Federal Laws De-
signed to Prevent Unfair
Competition
ROW MADE BY USERS
OF BENZOATE OF SODA
Say Those Who Don't Use IL
Suggest Unfair Implication
by Stating Fact on Label

WASHINGTON. Dec. S.-There ID
promise OF another large eruption IN
the food and drugs trade as result
OF the commission law and the Clay.
ton bill designed 10 prevent unfair
competition" Lawyers say II pre-
sents an opportunity for reopening
many OF the questions supposed 90
have bean settled by decisions OF the
Remssn board OF chemists ana the
food and drugs inspection board OF
the Taft administration. The WATSON
administration has made few changes
In those decisions.
The opportunity for renewing the
fight is 10 be found in the advertising
matter put out by the different lac
tons IN the two trades. While the
Remsen board heis 5erzoate or sods
TO be harmless In either large OF small
quantities, the manufacturers who 90
not use IL SO state on their laDels'
while those who did not give IL mp
continue TO state on their labels that
they use one-tenth OF one per cent
but In view OF the fact that the Hem,
sen board reported that II Is not
harmful II Is suggested that II is IL
legal TO require manufacturers Wao
continue using IL TO state the fact.
Indiana, Notwithstanding the de
cision OF the Remsen board, is trying
10 prevent the sale OF food products
containing benzoate on the assump'
ton that ii Is harmful.
! II is suggested that a charge OF
unfair competition will lie against
the manufacturers whose labels and
advertisements are so worded as 70
convey the impression that oenZoate
Is harmful II Is contended that the
only object in declaring that benzo-
ate Lis not used. is TO lead the con-
sumner TO believe that benzoate Is
harmful and therefore that unless he
manufacturer also declares that the
government has held II is harmless
he Is employing an unfair method 10
get business.
The Remsen board has decided also
that alum In baking powder Is no
more harmful than cream OF tartar
OF acid phosphate or any other leav'
eping agent commonly used. Inc
manufacturers who do not use alum
make much OF the fact that they do
not. Those who do are expected TO
make complaint TO the new trade com
mission that the object in making the
declaration Is 10 trade upon the pop.
ular nation that alum is harmful and
that the expose Is an unfair method
TO gain trade.
The baking powder makers, how
ever, have a more acrimonious nghl
than that, the "details OF which Will
probably be laid before the trade com
mission. One set uses egg albumen
In small quantities; the other does
not. Those who use the white oil
eggs asserted that IL increased the
leayening power OF the powder and
fluffy haired young lady demonstrators
we're sent to the shops that sell bak'
ing powder to demonstrate" II. The
demonstrator would wet two spoon
fuls OF powder containing no albumen,
It sizzled a little and remained inert.
Then she vets an equal or smaller
quantity of the albuminized powder
and, 10, its contents dubbed over the
sides OF the tumbler The natural In.
ference would be that the alumenized
powder was the thing.
The non-albumen men convinced
the food authorities OF a number OF
states that the experiment meant
nothing more than that the albumen
formed an impervious coating over the
gas generated by the powder, and that
the gas simply lifted that cover; that
In baking the impervious coat would
not be formed, or, II formed, II would