The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-21
FOOD Commissioner
ADVISES ABOUT EGGS
Illinois Official Tells Ways in
Which Present Losses
May Be Reduced.

w. scott Matthew's, state Food Com
missioner of Illinois. has issued the fol-
lowing bulletin: The average purchaser
OF eggs Is generally very often in doubt
as to the freshness Of the supply offered
him. He realizes that In each dozen OF
eggs purchased he may get a certain num-
Der OF bad ones and therefore estimates
their value accordingly. This uncertainty
as to the wholesomeness Of the egg sup
ply has worked to the detriment of the
industry and IL the principal reason why
the farmer Is unable at times to get
satisfactory price for his eggs. should
the purchaser be sure OF getting twelve
sound eggs In each dozen purchased the
price which the farmer would receive for
them would be advanced and the produce
ton OF eggs on the farm would become
paying proposition.
/ believe that the quality OF eggs sold
In this State can be greatly improved
without placing any unnecessary burden
upon the producer Many bad eggs reach
the market as the result Of unintelligent
and careless gathering and handling This
condition the Illinois state Food Commits
sion wishes to correct by recommending
proper methods. There are men who,
knowingly or through Indifference, de-
fraud the purchaser by selling bad eggs
With such people this department has no
patience. but will call their attention to
INC lOllOWlHB ttillpHS vi iiiHblS lODu anu
dairy laws. which read:
Section s. An article shall be deemed
TO be adulterated 90 IL Il consists In
whole or In part OF filthy, deconposed or
putrid. infected, tainted or rotten animal
or vegetable"
section II. Penalty. Any person con-
vlcted Of violating shall. for the
first offence be punished by a fine In
any sum not less than fifteen sl5) dol
lars, or by Imprisonment In the county
jail not exceeding thirty days, or by both
such fine and imprisonment In the dis
erection OF the court, and for the second
and each subsequent offence by II fine of
not less than twenty-five (S25) dollars
and not more than two hundred ts200)
dollars. or by imprisonment In the county
Jail moi exceeding one year. or both, in
the discretion Of the court"
The sale of rotten or spot eggs Is there
fore prohibited. The farmer. country
merchant. wholesale dealer or retailer
Offering such eggs for sale or having
them in his possession with intent to
sell, violates this section OF the law.
Each Is subject TO the same penalty.
The .'ood Commission wishes to make
the following recommendations for the
bettermcnt OF the egg supply.
Recommendation TO the farmer:
Produce only infcrtilc eggs for mar
ket. as they do not spoil so quickly as
fertile eggs. Dispose OF The ROSTERS as
soon as eggs needed for Matching are
obtained. The eggs keep better, and the
hens will lay just as many Of them.
Provide plenty OF clean nests with clean
straw in them. Gather eggs twice daily
In hot weather, and store them In "A cool.
sweet. well ventilated place, but do not
store where damp DO not wash eggs.
Market eggs as often as possible and
carry them gently. DO not sell eggs
from stool nests. Use them at home.
Protect eggs from the sun when taking
them To market. Eggs exposed to hot
sunshine for one hour will spoil: this
applies to infertlle as well as fertile
eggs. Candle your eggs and Insist upon
having them candled by the purchaser
80 that he may know that he Is buying
good eggs and pay accordingly. You
will thus reap the advantage for the
care you have given them Send pos
tai card to the Secretary OF Agriculture
Washington. d. c., and ask for n copy
or Year Book Separate No. $50. which
explains the operation of Gambling snd
grading OF eggs.
To egg buyers:
Candle all eggs and buy only on loss
or basis. Return all bad eggs 10 the
farmer. Encourage him to produce good
clean eggs by paying less for the other
kind. Store eggs In n cool, sweet and
dry place. Use only clean. dry filters
for packing. Forward eggs to commits
sion men as often as possible Do not
deliver to railway until shortly before
train time Keep eggs out of the sun
To packers and car lot shippers:
DO not buy case count" Have a
standard for quality and refuse all eggs
not up to the standard. Do not deal
In spots" and riots" Arrange separate
refrigerated rooms for storing eggs DO
not allow eggs to remain In a hot car
| any longer than Ia necessary
To retailers.
Buy only properly graded eggs DO
not m!srepresent them to purchasers
| Buy In small quantities unless YOU nave
separate refrigerntors for storing them.
Keep them away from all odorous sub
stances, particularly vegetables
To the housewife
Buy only candled and properly graded
eggs. Keep eggs In cool. sweet and
well-ventilatcd place. Wash eggs before
using them, as the smell may not be as
clean rs II appears. II you receive bad
eggs from your dealer report the facts
to this department. Illinois Is the sec
ond largest egg producing State in the
country. We produced last year eggs to
the value of s45 000. 900. but with n loss
of about s5,500,000 due TO Improper
care and handling. | believe thai by
carrying out the instructions here given
much OF this loss will he prevented
and that Illinois will soon hav. Il repu-
tation for good eggs.