Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-20
CONSUMERS RIGHT TO PROTECTION
FROM DUST And FLIES" SET FORTH
BY CHIEF OF BUREAU OF INSPECTION

4 The subject OF public health is much
discussed in Maine at the present mo-
1nent and vigorous public opinion is
being aroused upon matters pertaining &c
h. A NJ. q. Soule, chief Of the bureau
b inspection. is one of the principal
Speakers al the meetings of the public
health campaign in Lewiston and Ban
eor. In Bangor Wednesday night Mr..
Soule delivered the following address
Epou the subject Consumers Right 10
Food Protection from Dust and Flies"
4 The subject Of regulating the food sup-
ply in this country covers compare
tive}y short period, as il was about 80
FIRST laws regulating the sale of foods,
and II was not until 1906 that the pres
ent federal act was passed.
The nrst laws enacted by any of the
btates were intended to correct two dis
fnCt evils: one, the adulteration Of foods
With injurious substances detrimental TO
bealth. and the other, fraud by substi-
tlton Of materials Of an Inferior nature
put more recently il has been brought
h the attention Of food officials that
khere wus great necessity that another
Eeature ot the food law should be care
bully considered and necessary legisla-
fon drafted TO meet such demands,
&Erely. the problem Of sanitation and
tcvLsion for protecting food during the
Ess O1 manufacture. For instance, a
= Of bread. though made Of pure I'M
bkShed Hour. free from plaster paris or
Hur. might finally, 10y virtue of being
pace in a. unsanitary bakery, handled
g diseased operatives. and exposed on
Is way 10 The consumer TO germs carried
b flies and street dust.~become much
pore unwh oiesome than bread made
rom impure materials.
! Ii must be admitted that sanitation has
ways been g. popular subject and SAM
hxy laws have been obtained from legis-
Sxres in many of the states after con
5idefahle effort, but within few years
~ a. the states have been able I
bkain 1850 lAEs on the question Of food
Anitnff ~ today the violation OF
ur lxM1 niding for protection Of food
|eesun tSa more worthy of punishment
IN some pf She early laws which were
n4ended u Urevent substitution and &C.
sal IRA ud.9.
- for the rights of the consumer in
r. State Of Maine to protection Of food,
1lanse has been added to our food law
ch seems to give considerable pro
ION from legal standpoint.
he dictionary definition of food" We
nd TO be-"That which is eaten or drunk
Tor nourIshment' In defining food
the statute as part of the pure food
law states;
THE term food as used herein, shall
Be held 10 include all articles. whether
fimple, mixed or compound, used for
food, drink. confectionery. or condiment
b. man or other animals" This import
Pnt clause has been added, which reads:
Fer the purpose Of this act an article
hall he deemed to be adulterated in the
)ase Of food, If in the manufacture, sale,
distribution or transportation. or in the
pfer1ng or exposing for sale. distribution
Dr transportation, il is not at all times
oecurely protected from filth, flies, dust
7 other contamination, or other unclean,
=
L In the consideration Of the enforcement
pf the statute against such contamina-
bon, such wide scope is given under the
paw that II seems necessary TO carefully
consider certain phases of its breadth
kor inspection laws governing sanitation,
poorly enforced, are the very worst prop
osition that an honest dealer has to con-
[end with; and, of course, the dealer as
well as the consumer must be shown
proper consideration in the enforcement
Of any statute. Therefore, regardless of
the above terms carefully defining
food" it seems to be fair to rule that
different classes Of food require different
forms of protection. II is also well to
the different kinds of food and
the difference between those foods that
IRE eaten without preparation and those
max fe cooked, as the process Of cook
ln4 saally destroys the vitality of the
sseA*r germs which may be present.
Among the articles that seem to require
oust proof or glass covering should be
nduded bakery products of all kinds,
eAke. pies, bread. doughnuts and cookies
Cheese and butter; soft berries-straw.
berries in particular; raspberries and
HACK should be included. as well
Is dates, figs. corn balls and other foods
of sticky nature which will readily
accumulate the dust, and in the enforce
naent of the statute il is recommended
hat such articles as named should be
in dust proof window, closed
II she back and properly ventilated. the
Ventilation being usually as essential rs
he protection.
al very few cases disputes have
risen between officials and dealers over
ne Interpretation Of the law as to what
protection should be given for certain
linds OF foods. for instance; it has been
by some dealers that straw
'eF1es do not require the dust proof