The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1915-11-26
UNR|PE CITRUS FRUIT.
Departments Position as to
Interstate Shipment of
Immature Oranges and
Grapefruit.

Immature Oranges and
Grapefruit.
The department has been requested
by growers and shippers to define its
position with respect to the applica-
ton of the Federal Food and Drugs
Act to the transportation in inter
state commerce of immature oranges
and immature grapefruit. These re-
quests have been accompanied by re-
quests for modification of the tests
announced by the department for de-
termining whether oranges and
grapefruit are immature.
On April 6, 1911, Food Inspection
Decision 1873 was issued with respect
to the coloring of green citrus fruits
This decision reads as follows:
"The attention of the Board of Food
and Drug Inspection has been direct
ed to the shipment in interstate COM
merce of green, immature citrus
fruits, particularly oranges, which
have been artificially colored by hold
ing in a warm, moist atmosphere for
a short period of time after removal
from the tree. Evidence is adduccd
showing that such oranges do not
change in sugar or acid content after
removal from the tree. Evidence
further shows that the same oranges
remaining on the tree increase mark
edly in sugar content and decrease IN
acid content. Further, there is evil
dence to show that the consumption
of such immature oranges, especially
iby children, is apt to be attended by
serious disturbances of the digestive
system.
"Under the Food and Drugs Act Of
June, 80, 1906, an article of food is
adulterated if it be mixed, colored,
powdered, coated, or stained in IA
manner whereby damage or Inferior
ity is concealed 1t is the opinion
! of the board that oranges treated as
mentioned above are colored in man
ner whereby inferiority is concealed
and are, therefore, adulterated. The
board recognizes the fact that certain
varieties of oranges attain maturity
as to size, sweetness, and acldity be-
fore the color changes from green
to yellow, and this decision is not in
tended to interfere with the market
ing of such oranges"
/ Following the issue of Food lnspec-
ton Decioion 1873, seizures were rec
commended of immature oranges which
had been artificially colored by
sweating either prior to shipment OF
in transit. These seizures led to
numerous requests that the depart
ment announce tests for determining
the immaturity of oranges.
| In November, 1914, the Bureau OF
Chemistry in its service announce
ments issued the following statement;
"As result of the Investigations
carried out during the season of 1919
and 1914, the Bureau of Chemistry
considers California oranges to be
immature if the juice does not con-
tain soluble solids equal to, or in ex'
cess of parts to every part Of
acid contained in the juice, the acidi'
ty of the juice to be calculated as
citric acid without water of crystalli
cation. Owing to the fact that OPP
portunity has been given to sturdy
the composition of California oranges
during one season only, the ratio SCI
at this is lower than that which i:
believed to be the minimum for prop
erly matured fruit. 1t may, there
fore, be expected that the require
ments will be made more strict aftel
data from several crops are available.
The value of the test laid dowr
in the service announcements has beer
confirmed by Investigations carried OF
during the season of 1915.
On September %, 1915, press no
tice was issued defining tests for de
termining the immaturity of grape
fruit and Florida oranges, as follows
with the information now availa
BILE the Bureau of Chemistry consid
ers grapefruit to be immature if thu
Juice does not contain soluble solids
equal to, or in excess of, 7 parts t.
each part of acid contained in thu
Juice, the acidity of the juice to b'
calculated as citric acid without wa
ter of crystallization. The bureau
also considers Florida oranges to b,
immature if the juice does not contain
soluble solids equal to, or in excess
) of, parts to every part of acid con
IdlHGu Ill Vie JulCe, llS dCIuIly W "
/ calculated as citric acid without wa
, ter of capitalization.
Owing to the fact that the invest
cations of the bureau have not beef
completed, the ratios set for grape
fruit and for Florida oranges ar
lower than those which are believe
to be the lowest for properly ma
tured fruit. 1t may, therefore, be eX
! pected that the requirements will b
made more strict after data from sew
eral crops are available"
The department, with the informa
| tioin available as the result of its in
( designations, regards the tests as de
, fined for determining the immaturit.
r of California oranges and for deter
, mining the immaturity of grapefruit
, and Florida oranges as being fai!
accurate, and reasonable tests.
Oranges and grapefruit, in common
with other articles or food, in tn
opinion of the department, are adul
terated "if they are mixed, coated, col
ored, powdered, or stained in a man
. ner whereby damage or inferiority i
= concealed" The only announcement
t of the department affecting the shin