Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-19
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them to this Office, and in August
regulatory announcement enumerating
the different articles requiring protec-
ton, was issued from this bureau ana
distributed to the dealers by the in
spectors in the towns and cities visit
ed.
In the early spring, a large ware
house that was located in Portland,
burned. In this building large quanti-
ties of canned goods and other food
products in bulk packages were
stored. 1t is hoped that valuable SER
vice was rendered at this time by
carefully tracing out and regulating
the sale of salvaged goods. AS re-
suit of this fire, portion OF the
canned goods was entirely destroyed,
and in the disposition of the remainder
the proper protection to the consumer
was afforded under the Pure Food
law. Inspectors watched carefully the
recovery Of large quantities Of sar-
dimes. canned tomatoes, canned apples
and other miscellaneous food prod
ucts, and in some cases personally in
spected the retaining process OF
canning; in other instances, where
carload shipments entered interstate
commerce, the Federal authorities
were notified as well as the food Of
ficials in the state where the cars had
their destination"
Ice Cream.
During the summer, particular at
tention was paid to the collecnon OF
ice cream samples which were OBJ
tanned from a wide range of territory.
Particular care was taken by the in
spectors to bring to the attention. OF
ice cream manufacturers in an educa-
tional way the requirements under the
law, and copies of these requirements
were distributed extensively. In gen.
eral, the inspectors have reported a
willingness on the part Of the manu-
facturers to comply with the law and
they have also reported that very lit
tie fault has been found with the STAN
dard that is required. Another fea-
ture noticed among these dealers was
the spirit Of competition and Jealous
guarding Of their formula. This is q
departure that should be encouraged,
as it has tendency to raise the STAN
dard even above that required by the
statute. esssz :
Among the samples Of ice cream OBJ
tanned, especially in some Of 5th9 coast
towns, deficiency in milk tat was
found In all such cases a hearing
was arranged and an explanation for
the deficiency requested. In some
cases the use Of eggs was responsible
for the reduction Of the milk fat con-
tent. but it is very gratifying to re-
port that not one case was investigated
where to our belief an intentional
violation could have been proven. The
results in general obtained by collect
ing and analysing ice cream samples
have been most encouraging, and it is
| with a feeling Of great pride that the
statement is made that the people Of
Maine are supplied with Ice cream
| that is not surpassed anywhere. This
is not due so much, perhaps. to the
careful enforcement Of the law as to
the existence Of a fair standard, sharp
competition among the producers, and
honesty and integrity Of the manu-
facturers"
In General.
Many other lines Of work followed
by the bureau are reported by Chief
Soule and it is evident that the bu
reau has been very busy and very ef-
ficient in it's work. Looking over the
! whole field Of the bureaus activity,
Chief Soule says:
Few complaints relating to sus-
80 I,,Jx H,,o ~
Of any particular food products, have
been received. Whenever a complaint
has been brought to our attention,
! however, blanks have been forwarded
to the complainant with full directions
for taking and forwarding samples
for analysis; when the circumstances
warranted, an inspector was detailed
! to investigate the alleged violation
carefully. prosecution, being made il
sufficient cause was found 1t is sin
cerely hoped that the law properly en-.
forced is having the desired effect and
that the reason SO few grievances have
been reported is that the people Of the
state are not being imposed upon
rather than that the silence main.
tanned by the army Of consumers has
been due to the fear of publicity had
violations been reported to the prope,
omcers charged with the enforcement,
OF the law. II aeeyno ynoa+ dos,roh1.