Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-20

covering when exposed for sale in the
stores, or in store windows LAT are not
enclosed. claiming that the berries during
their growth receive natural contamina-
ton. After considering the ananysis OF
street dust, and the fact that strawber-
ries-eyen if they are washed-are not
sterilized, and understanding that the
Dust which is accumulated incidental to
their growth is of very different char
ac1er from that received from the city
streets. it seems most important that
they should be protected by dust proof
covering; care should also be taken that
proper ventilation is afforded.
Another class of food, in which grapes,
apples, pears and plums should be in
cluded-which should never be eaten
without peeling or washing-does not
seem 10 require glass coverings but
should be protected by some sort Of
screening from flies; still another class
Of food. such as potatoes, turnips, car
rots, parsnips, cucumbers, and fruits like
bananas and oranges which--in the case
of vegetables are always cooked before
they are eaten, and in the case of fruit
the natural protective covering is removed
does not seem TO reqGire any particular
protection, and il seems wise to allow
such goods to be sold without it.
In general, meat products seem to be
in a class by themselves. Special men
ton should, perhaps. be made as to the
protection that should be given this par
ticular commodity. II is not always con-
venient or, perhaps, practical 10 keep
possible TO do SO when customers are
being served. II is, of course, essential
that a meat room should be screened. 1t
IS rather a commemorate practice fol-
lowed by some dealers-especially during
the summer-that they offer for sale sew
eral kinds of cooked meats. such as veal
loaf, corned beef. boiled tongue and
boiled ham; these should receive &c
same fly proof and dust proof protection
in the store as should be afforded in any
well regulated home.
One particular food, and its protection.
could be- perhaps, considered as the most
important and might be given a separate
title Of ''Children's Rights" namely milk.
The first special laws regulating the
sale of milk. like those applied to other
kinds of foods, and-in fact-most of the
laws now in force, were framed with
particular reference TO adulteration
rather than sanitation. and it seems un-
fortunate but true that q more earnest
attempt has been made to collect samples
that have been watered than to hunt con-
sistently for the reason why 10 times
more bottle fed babies die than those
that are breast fed.
II might be well to call attention at this
time TO the statute which provides that
all cans and receptacles used in the
transportation Of milk and cream shall
be cleansed and steriliZed before being
forwarded to the producer or distributor
Of milk and cream for use; but without q
local milk inspector in every single town
and city in the State, and on every milk
route, this statute is impossible TO enforce
The responsibility of enforcement Of
dairy laws and insurance Of pure milk
supply is almost too great to bear. With
reference to milk, consumers have du-
ties as well as rights to consider, as in
nocent babies are dependent upon us for
the selection of their food. Milk should
be carefully cared for after being re-
ceived by the consumer. and milk from q
market, grocery store or bakery, if kept
in cans, should be considered as danger
Gus and should be avoided.
There are several phases to be con-
sidered as to the protection that should
be afforded to the consumer Of ice cream
since this product is no longer considered
luxury but is recognized by all as
ri hos full
titled to ice cream that has been manu-
factured in a sanitary manner and that
has not been refrozen. Dirty milk cans
and dirty ice cream cans may develop
deadly ptomaine from the decomposi-
ton of the cream left in the cans Cans.
as soon as enptied should be thorough
ly washed and sterilized before using for
ice cream again. At the soda fountains
and ice cream parlors where the individ-
ual plate is served, the dish and spoon
should be properly washed and sterilized.
and if cones are used, these should be
carefully protected from dust. The same
protection should be afforded to the ar
tifcial straws furnished soda drinkers
The reasons for giving the consumer
this protection under the statute do not
seem to be debatable subject Let US
consuder separately some of the most
dangerous sources of contamination to
human food. namely: the fly, street Dust
and man himself
THE FLY.
First, the fly: Perhaps the greatest
advancement made in the chronological
world in recent times is the discovery of
the danger caused by flies as carriers Of
disease. The transmission of disease by
flies is accomplished in two ways-the
mechanical method and the biological
method. 1t seems almost incredible to