The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-01-21
Authorities Breaking Up
Big Traffic in Bad Eggs

a definite market in Chicago for riots
and spots" at $500 a case of 80 doz-
en-. In consequence, rots and spots
from all over the surrounding coun-
try have been coming into Chicago In
large numbers.
In the past the delay necessary to
secure authorization from Washing
ton to make the seizures under the
Federal food and drugs act has
proved a serious handicap In break
ing up the traffic. With the cooper
alton of the state authorities, how
ever. this delay is o largely obvi-
ated. Under the detention section
of the state law governing this mat
ter, state inspectors are able to hold
suspicious shipments for examination
and further investigation.
The state authorities being on the
spot are able to act with great
promptness. In this way not only are
seizures made possible, but the nee
essary steps toward criminal prose-
cution are also facilitated. One of
the firms in Chicago handling these
bad eggs has already been tried by a
state court and found guilty. Ship
ments of bad eggs e also being re-
ported to the authorities in Chicago
by Federal, state and city inspectors
in order that these eggs may be
traced to their ultimate destination.
Although there is a certain demand
for inedible eggs for technical pur-
poses. such as tanning leather. most
of the rots and spots that reach Chi
cago are first broken and frozen, and
then sold to bakers for use In cakes
and other forms of food. In one in
stance, at least, a shipment of these
eggs was traced to a firm which ad-
mitted that they had no use for them
except in food.
AS a matter Of fact, Federal in
spectors have been able to secure
ample evidence of the use of unfit
eggs for this purpose. Before they
had the active cooperation of the
state authorities, however, 1t was diff
ficult to act with the promptness re-
quired to obtain satisfactory results.
Now, with the state and Federal au-
thorities working together, it is be-
lieved the traffic can be broken up
very readily. In this connection 1t is
pointed out that most of the firms
using these unfit eggs probably do SO
reluctantly, believing that the compe-
tition of others forces them into the
traffic. However, it has been amply
demonstrated by the Department that
the frozen and dried egg business is
a successful and important industry
only when based on the use of good
eggs, handled under special condi-
lions.
Another important result of the
work in Chicago it is hoped will be
to persuade other cities and states of
the necessity of assisting the Federal
Government in destroying the traffic
in bad eggs. That this can be done
has already been demonstrated in
Trenton, N. j., where II indictments
have been found on the charge Of
conspiracy in connection with this
business.
Such criminal prosecutions 1t is be-
lieved will do far more to put an end
to the traffic than any number of
seizures or fines. The profit in the
business Is so great when conducted
on an extensive scale that the dealer
can we'll afford an occasional fine.
His rots and spots cost him SO little
that when his goods are seized the
loss is insignificant, and in many
cases he has no reputation at all to
suffer from the consequent exposure.
In this connection the general in
formation which appeared in the
service and regulatory announce
ments Of the Bureau Of Chemistry,
Department of Agriculture, issued Au-
gust %, 1914, concerning the de-
maturing of food products not in
tended for food but intended for
technical purposes, will be of interest
to those who deal In certain food
products which consist in whole or in
part of decomposed material, such,
for example, as frozen or dried eggs
shipped in interstate commerce for
technical purposes If such products
are not denatured before shipment
seizures will be recommended in all
cases of interstate shipments Of such
products. This ourse will be fol-
lowed regardless of the labels under
which the products are sold.
No action will be taken, however,
in the case of decomposed food prod
ucts which have been denatured In
such a way as to prevent their use for
food purposes.