Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-10-09
DECEPTIVE GUARANTEES.

dhu piododub TeueCIlOHS anu lis liuo
so fully occupied in accomplishing
the daily tasks and enjoying the many
diverting pleasures of existence, few
ever reflect that all ones activities
are dependent on the oxidation OF
the food consumed at breakfast, din
ner and supper, and that the instant
one ceases to produce heat by reason
Of this internal combustion, that In.
slant one becomes a cold, dead body.
1t is disturbing thought, anyway,
and quite generally we refuse to en-
terrain disturbing thoughts volun.
tarily.
Probably no better, no more vivid
illustration of the Darwinian princi.
pies Of progress, of the survival of the
fittest, of wisdom slowly and painfully
acquired and developing as the result
Of bitter experience in repeatedly do
ing the wrong thing, can be found
than our growth in the knowledge OF
dietetics, of the development of the
science of eating to live.
Our primitive ancestors in their I'm.
ceasing and omnivorous search for
everything that would satisfy hunger
undoubtedly bit off, chewed and en-,
deavored to digest every berry, plant
root or leaf that looked good to them
growing out Of doors within the range
of their physical ability to cover in
the region in which they habitually
lived, and under stress of famine they
were forced to wide excursions. Those
that survived passed on to our age
an organization adapted to that par.
ticular range of diet, and humanity
thrives on the simple natural food to
which It was adjusted. But in the
highly artificial conditions incident
to civilization the habits developed by
this eager quest for anything that
would enable primitive men to sur
vive or that would add attractiveness
to their menu in times of plenty have
come down to us as instincts that
make US easy victims of ignorant OF
INSCRIPTIONS manufacturers.
The United States department OF
agriculture, through it's official week.
ly news letter of May 20, 1914, gives
notice Of a decision signed May g.
1914, by the secretaries of the treas
ury, agriculture and commerce, pro
hibiting the use of the legend, Guar
anteed under the food and drugs act,
on any label or package.
Tho dato Of 70 pou rou1IlotiOn will
not take effect until May 1, 1916, in or
| der to give manufacturers an opportu
nifty to use up their present stocks
of labels. The reasons for this 40
ton are, quoting the official letter:
ct has been determined that the
! legend, Guaranteed under the foot
and drugs act, June 80, 1906 ant
| guaranteed by (name. of guarantor)
under the food and drugs act, June 80
| 1906, borne on the labels or pack
ages of food and drugs, accompanied
by serial numbers given by the secre
tary of agriculture, are each mislead
ing and deceptive, in that the public
is induced by such legends and Sc
rial numbers to believe that the arti
Giles to which they relate have beer
examined and approved by the gov
eminent, and that the government
guarantees that they comply with the
law the use of either legend, or an!
similar legend, on labels or packages
should be discontinued.
'Inasmuch as the acceptance by thu
secretary of agriculture for filing o
the guarantees of manufacturers ant
dealers and the giving by him Of Sc
rial numbers thereto contribute to thu
deceptive character of legends on la
bells and packages, no guaranty in an!
form shall hereafter be filed with
and no serial number shall hereafte
be given to any guaranty by the sec
rotary of agriculture. All guarantee
now on file with the secretary Of agrl
culture shall be stricken from the files
and the serial numbers assigned Il
such guarantees shall be cancelled"
The pure food law simply require
that a package shall be plainly Ia
beled stating the complete contents
Obviously if one does not know one
needs the law is of but little person
al value. The appearance of tn
guaranty and serial number on an
product has been Of no material as
sistance to the government in detect
ing or prosecuting violations OF tn
food and drugs act, nor has 1t pre-
NOTED the manufacture and sale o
pure foods or drugs. Its presence o.
an adulterated or misbranded produc
does not enable the federal officers Z
secure any heavier penalty for viola
tons than if the goods were not 8
labeled, but it does make the decor
ton of the public more certain.
This action Of the department of ae
riculture will receive the hearty al
prevail of all who have any interes
in healthful foods because 1t force
us to recognize the simple truth tina
today, as always, the question OF
food supply remains an individual
proposition, and our individual heait
and happiness are in exact measur
J to the wisdom with which we meet tn
issue.